In a rare and extraordinary rescue, a British Columbia woman survived after being completely buried upside down in an avalanche for 15–20 minutes near Pump Peak on Mount Seymour in March 2024.

Swept downhill while snowshoeing in the backcountry, she was entombed beneath dense snow with no visible air pocket. Her companion immediately began digging and spotted the tip of her snowshoe — a discovery rescuers later called the difference between life and death.

When he reached her, she was unconscious, hypothermic, and deprived of oxygen. North Shore Rescue crews arrived quickly, provided emergency care, and transported her safely off the mountain.

Experts note that survival chances drop sharply after 15 minutes of burial, making this outcome incredibly rare. Rescuers described it as a “total miracle.”

Her survival is now being called both a testament to fast action and a powerful reminder of how unpredictable backcountry conditions can be.