British Skier Survives 1,300ft Avalanche in French Alps After Nine Minutes Buried
A 23-year-old British skier has been miraculously rescued after being hit by a massive 1,300ft avalanche in the French Alps. Daniel Matthews was left unconscious for several minutes after being buried under 7ft of snow in the popular resort of Tignes.
The Dramatic Incident
A video shared on Instagram captured the terrifying moment when Mr. Matthews was knocked over while skiing downhill on an off-piste route near the Palafour lift. He was discovered by friends just six minutes after being completely covered in snow. After a total of nine minutes buried, he managed to free his head and regain consciousness.
Reflecting on his harrowing experience, Daniel described feeling like he was being thrown around in a 'washing machine' for 35 seconds, with snow falling on him as if 'someone had poured concrete on me.' Despite the trauma, he maintained that his trip had been 'one hell of a thrill.'
A Warning to Others
In a social media post, Matthews acknowledged his poor decision-making, writing: 'Friday 13th was an unlucky and incredibly lucky day for me. I made a very bad and uneducated decision to ski Skimans Couloir just off the Palafour lift in Tignes.' He emphasized that the only person to blame was himself, but expressed gratitude for wearing proper equipment and being with knowledgeable companions.
His message to fellow skiers was clear: 'So please wear the right equipment, do training, listen to mother nature and be with people you trust!'
Dangerous Conditions in the Alps
The incident occurred on February 13, when skiers had been given a rare day-long red alert warning of dangerous conditions across several areas in the French Alps, including Haute-Tarentaise where Tignes is located. This was only the third time the highest alert had been issued since the system was introduced 25 years ago, prompting many resorts to close their pistes.
Tragically, two Britons were among three killed by an avalanche in the nearby resort of Val d'Isere just last week. Stuart Leslie, 46, and Shaun Overy, 51, were part of a group of five skiers with a professional instructor when they were swept away.
Avalanche Survival Statistics
Experts emphasize that survival rates in avalanches depend heavily on how long a person remains buried:
- First 15 minutes after burial: 93% survival rate if rescued
- After 45 minutes under snow: Survival drops to 20-30%
- Two hours after burial: Very few survive
Most avalanche fatalities result from suffocation (approximately 57%) or injuries (30%). Dry slabs of avalanche snow can reach speeds up to 186mph (300km/h), with enough force to cause fatal injuries or strike victims with rocks, debris, and trees.
Recent Avalanche Tragedies
The French Alps incident follows other recent avalanche tragedies across Europe and North America. In Austria's Tyrol region, at least three people were killed yesterday, including a father skiing with his teenage son. Meanwhile, in California's Lake Tahoe community, six friends died during a guided backcountry ski trip when they were struck by an avalanche.
Daniel Matthews' survival serves as both a cautionary tale and a remarkable story of resilience amid increasingly dangerous winter conditions in popular skiing destinations worldwide.
