Snow survivor: US man rescued after 3 hours buried

A New Hampshire man has survived being buried in the snow for more than three hours.

Pen Argyl, Northampton County, 2011. Image by Nicholas A. Tonelli / CC BY 2.0

Drew Mullins says he was using a snow rake to clear snow off the metal roof of his Peterborough home when it came down all at once and within seconds, Mullins was trapped under about 2ft of snow. He says his heavy breathing caused the snow above his head to melt to the point where he could get some air.

Mullins’ wife had left shortly before the accident. When she returned three-and-a-half hours later, she says she heard his muffled cries for help. She found him and called 911. It took first responders about 20 minutes to dig Mullins out before he was taken to a hospital and treated for exposure.