Man Buried Under Avalanche Survives After Being Trapped for Several Hours

A seasoned skier is being called nothing short of a miracle survivor after beating almost impossible odds in a terrifying avalanche ordeal that left him buried alive for hours.

Michael Harris, a lifelong skier from Washington, set out for a solo run on February 26 at Stevens Pass Mountain Resort — something he’d done countless times before. But this time, everything went horribly wrong. Harris accidentally triggered an avalanche, and despite it being relatively small, the terrain worked against him, completely burying him under the snow.

Worse yet, no one saw it happen.

Trapped beneath the snow with no immediate hope of rescue, Harris was forced into a desperate fight to stay alive. In the chaos, he managed to create a small air pocket near his face using his arm — a move that likely saved his life. He ended up stuck in a bizarre, semi-standing position, bent forward with his head facing downhill and one ski pinned against a rock.

Time dragged on. Minutes turned into hours.

Experts say most avalanche victims don’t stand a chance. According to the Utah Avalanche Center, survival rates drop off dramatically after just 15 minutes due to dangerous carbon dioxide buildup. After two hours, almost no one makes it out alive.

But Harris did.

His unexpected lifeline came from his wife of 30 years, Penny Harris, and a simple piece of technology. She had been tracking his location using the “Find My” feature on her iPhone and quickly grew concerned when his movement suddenly stopped and he stopped responding to messages.

Trusting her instincts, she contacted rescue teams, who were able to locate Harris and reach him within about 20 minutes of her call.

By then, he had been buried for at least four and a half hours.

Against all odds, Harris was pulled from the snow alive. He suffered cold exposure, a broken leg, and minor internal injuries — but considering the circumstances, it’s nothing short of astonishing.

Officials believe a combination of factors helped him survive, including the air pocket he created, the positioning near a boulder, and the softer snow around him that prevented complete suffocation.

Harris is now expected to make a full recovery within a year — an outcome that feels almost unbelievable given how close he came to tragedy.