AMAZING STORY OF SURVIVAL:

Snowmobiler Ryan Roberts Shares His Story of Being Buried Alive for Eight Hours in Montana Avalanche

March 13, 2007 /PRNewswire/ — Ryan Roberts thought his life was over on Thursday, March 1, when he was caught in an avalanche while snowmobiling in Flathead National Forest's Jewel Basin near Kalispell, Montana.

Ryan was snowmobiling with his uncle and a friend at about 4 p.m. Thursday, when a 2-foot slab of snow broke beneath him while climbing. His companions were able to get out of the way, but Ryan was caught in the avalanche and eventually buried under four feet of snow. He did not have his beacon with him, a device used to find avalanche victims, because he couldn't find it that morning.

His companions immediately began searching for Ryan, and called for help using cell phones. About 18 family members and friends, as well as a local County Sheriff's Department team searched for Roberts for hours, to no avail. Finally, a cousin of Ryan's reached the scene and admittedly did not expect to find him alive. However, shortly before midnight he found Ryan, alive and awake.

After emerging from the snow he was taken by snowmobile to the hospital 20 miles away and had only scrapes. Roberts says that a small air pocket in the snow, a full face helmet and a ThermaCare heat wrap kept him alive, as did the thought of his family and friends.