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Avalanche in Switzerland (symbol image)
Photo: Cavan Images RF/Getty Images
A Swiss ski tourer endured an exceptionally long time under an avalanche before he could be rescued unharmed.
The 26-year-old was covered by mountains of snow so high for six hours that he could no longer move on his own, according to the Valais canton police.
Relatives had given up a missing persons report on Wednesday.
The man had told them his planned route near Liddes in Valais.
Rescuers launched a search flight and were able to quickly locate the avalanche and dig up the man.
After just 15 minutes, the chance of surviving a completely buried person drops significantly, after 60 minutes only one in five people is found alive, according to an evaluation by the Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF.
Victims suffocate under the packed snow or succumb to their injuries.
In individual cases, however, victims are lucky and there is a cavity in front of their face that allows them to breathe.
Under these circumstances, winter sports enthusiasts are rescued alive even after several hours.
lmd/dpa