Dog bark saves two people from avalanche

Two people caught in an avalanche in Switzerland were rescued after their dogs barked for help, attracting the attention of people nearby who were able to dig them out.

The avalanche swept the pair off a hiking trail in the Avers Valley of south-western Switzerland, near the Italian border and west of St Moritz, just after 3pm on Saturday, the air ambulance service Rega said in a statement.

A spokesperson for Swiss air ambulance service said their dogs, who were not buried by the snow, drew attention to themselves by barking loudly.

“The dogs attracted the attention of a group of snow-shoers who were some distance away in the same valley but had not witnessed the avalanche.”

Luckily, about 15-20 minutes after the avalanche, the group was at the scene, where one of the avalanche victims’ hands was visible; the other person was buried entirely, Rega said.

Both were dug out slightly injured and with mild hypothermia. Rega then flew them by helicopter to hospital.