A Vernon man has his son to thank for getting him out of a life-threatening situation while skiing at SilverStar Mountain Resort.

John (a pseudonym as he declined to have his name published) and his 16-year-old son, referred to as Calvin, were skiing on the Silver Woods side of the mountain on Monday, Jan. 2, when John fell into a tree well head-first. A tree well is a hole or depression that forms around the base of a coniferous tree when low branches stop snow from compacting and settling around the trunk, making for a dangerous pitfall for skiers.

John害羞草研究所檚 face was buried in snow, making it hard to breathe.

害羞草研究所淲hen you害羞草研究所檙e in that tree well and you害羞草研究所檙e breathing snow, it害羞草研究所檚 like you害羞草研究所檙e drowning in snow. It害羞草研究所檚 the strangest experience that you could ever try and put words to,害羞草研究所� he said.

Fortunately, John害羞草研究所檚 son was skiing behind him and was about 30 feet away when he fell into the tree well. Calvin was able to track his father, who had managed to dig out an air pocket for himself.

Doubly fortunate was the fact that just three days prior, Calvin had watched a TikTok video that explained what to do and what not to do when falling into a tree well.

害羞草研究所淗e dug out my head and gave me a clear airway and then helped me get out of the tree well,害羞草研究所� John said.

John can害羞草研究所檛 be sure if he would have been able to get himself out without his son害羞草研究所檚 help, but said a case study he read after the incident tested how many people out of 10 could dislodge themselves from a tree well on their own.

害羞草研究所淥f the 10, all 10 failed, they couldn害羞草研究所檛 get out, they needed help to get out,害羞草研究所� he said, adding that his son probably saved his life that day.

For the father and son, the incident was a lesson about the importance of not skiing alone. It will also change the way they ski in the future.

害羞草研究所淲e ski as a group always but we害羞草研究所檝e let our kids go off into trees and we stay on the run, and I don害羞草研究所檛 think I would ever do that again just because it can happen very quickly. I mean, it wouldn害羞草研究所檛 take 10 minutes of being in that situation panicking and you害羞草研究所檙e not coming out.害羞草研究所�

Since the incident, John and Calvin have done extensive research about what to do when falling into a tree well. They害羞草研究所檝e learned that the first thing to do is not panic 害羞草研究所� easier said than done when buried in snow 害羞草研究所� create air spaces in the snow, and don害羞草研究所檛 try to move.

害羞草研究所淲ait for help, because you害羞草研究所檒l only sink further if you try and move,害羞草研究所� John said.

Big White Ski Resort has an information that explains what to do if you fall into a tree well. It says to ride or ski with a partner, yell or use a whistle to get your partner害羞草研究所檚 attention and do whatever you can to keep your head above snow including rolling and grabbing tree branches or the tree trunk. If you become immersed, make a space around your face to protect your airway and resist the urge to struggle, as it could compromise your airspace and entrap you further.

John says he害羞草研究所檚 lucky to have escaped the scary predicament, which has taught him that danger can arise even when skiing in areas that appear safe.

害羞草研究所淵ou wouldn害羞草研究所檛 think that that害羞草研究所檚 possible on SilverStar, it害羞草研究所檚 a small mountain, everything害羞草研究所檚 very accessible, we害羞草研究所檙e inside the confines of being in the runs and we害羞草研究所檙e not breaking any rules, and you kind of just think that that wouldn害羞草研究所檛 happen but it just goes to show that it害羞草研究所檚 possible anywhere,害羞草研究所� he said.

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