2026-03-24

2 Backcountry Skiers Survive Avalanche Near Nuuk, Greenland, Buried Up to 16 Feet Deep for Nearly an Hour





Two backcountry skiers caught in an avalanche near the Sisorarfiit ski lift on the outskirts of Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, miraculously survived for an hour beneath up to 16 feet of snow on Monday.



Related: Swiss Research Shows 10% Jump in Avalanche Survival and 45% Faster Rescues in Last 40 Years



Qamutit SAR group received the alert at 2:46 p.m. local time when a bystander contacted emergency services on behalf of someone buried in the avalanche. Three Qamutit instructors teaching an avalanche safety course in the ski lift cafeteria responded immediately. More SAR volunteers and members of the public joined, bringing the rescue party to between 20 and 30 people.

The first victim was located approximately one meter (three feet) below the surface and showed signs of life after being freed.

The second burial was beyond the reach of standard 8-foot (2.5-meter) probe rods, and the victim was eventually found 13 to 16 feet (four to five meters) down. Both victims were carrying active transceivers, which allowed rescuers to pinpoint their positions and begin digging. Without working beacons, locating either person in time would have been extremely unlikely.



Related: Study Finds Avalanche Victims With Long Burial Times (≥60 Min) Have Only 19% Chance of Survival





A peer-reviewed study published in the journal Resuscitation, covering 140 completely buried avalanche victims with burial durations of 60 minutes or more, found an overall survival rate of just 19 percent. The study also found that victims who died were buried significantly deeper than those who survived, an average of 40 inches (100 centimeters) compared to 28 inches (70 centimeters). Both individuals in Nuuk were buried for up to 60 minutes, placing them squarely in that high-risk window.

The second victim was unconscious and showed signs of broken bones when reached. A SAR helicopter, requested by police, arrived on scene approximately two hours after the avalanche and flew the person to Nuuk for emergency treatment. The first victim, who showed no signs of serious physical injury, was transported by road to a waiting ambulance in the city.



Related: For the First Time in 25 Years, Greenland Ski Resort Remains Closed Amid Warmth and Low Snow Totals



Qamutit confirmed both individuals are now out of danger.

The avalanche occurred in uncontrolled backcountry terrain adjacent to the ski area, not on the lift-served slopes themselves. The Sisorarfiit ski area, a small community hill with approximately 417 feet (127 meters) of vertical, served only as the staging point for the rescue operation. In a statement, Qamutit noted that avalanche danger in the backcountry surrounding Nuuk remains elevated and urged all backcountry travelers to carry a beacon, probe, shovel, and avalanche airbag, and to avoid traveling alone.



The post 2 Backcountry Skiers Survive Avalanche Near Nuuk, Greenland, Buried Up to 16 Feet Deep for Nearly an Hour appeared first on SnowBrains.

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