Two skiers are being hailed as heroes after rescuing a man who was buried under deep snow at Palisades Tahoe resort in California – a dramatic moment that was caught on video and has gone viral.
The rescue was carried out by Carson Schmidt, who later shared footage of the incident on Threads. According to Schmidt, the near-fatal accident took place at Palisades Tahoe, between KT and Olympic Lady runs on Wednesday, February 18.
In his post, Schmidt wrote: “Wasn’t sure if I was going to post this or not but this was at Palisades between Kt and Olympic lady on Wednesday feb 18th. For whatever reason we stopped and happen to just see tips of the skis in the whiteout and luckily we did.”
Schmidt used the incident as a cautionary reminder to fellow skiers. “Just want it to be a reminder to ski safe and ski with a buddy. Doesn’t have to be a an avalanche or a tree well to get buried when it’s that deep.”
An X post by Collin Rugg also explained the incident in detail, attaching the video of the rescue alongside the post.
The video shows heavy snowfall and near whiteout conditions. As Schmidt and his companion pause in deep powder, they notice the faint tips of skis protruding from the snow. Realising something was wrong, they rush toward the spot and begin digging frantically. Moments later, they uncover a skier who had been completely buried and was suffocating beneath the snow.
Watch the video here:
The footage shows the urgency of the rescue, with snow flying as they dig through the dense powder. The buried man appears disoriented but alive once freed.
The video spread widely across social media, emphasising the hidden dangers of deep powder skiing. While avalanches and tree wells were often cited as major risks, this incident underscores how even routine skiing in heavy snowfall can turn life-threatening in seconds.
Viewers praised the rescuers for their quick thinking and situational awareness. Several observed that had the skiers not paused at that exact moment, the outcome could have been tragic.
Skiing experts often emphasised the importance of the buddy system, particularly in deep snow conditions where falls could result in “snow immersion suffocation,” a lesser-known but serious hazard.
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