Two skiers spotted something sticking out of deep snow and stopped — their stomachs dropped when they realized it wasn’t debris
Right timing and swift action can transform disaster into survival. When two skiers were skiing between KT-22 and Olympic Lady runs, they realized that they had stepped on something unusual. A little bit of digging revealed the shocking truth sticking out of the snow. Their quick response was later hailed as a heroic act. Reported by The Sun on Thursday, February 26, 2026, the skiers later said they were thankful they stopped to check what appeared to be debris, a decision that ultimately saved a life.
On the Californian slopes, two skiers, Carson Schmidt and his partner, were skiing when they stopped to notice something emerging from the snow. Assuming it to be debris, the duo decided to get close to it, but what they saw shook them. Footage from February 18, 2026, captured a man completely buried and trapped beneath the snow, with only his skis sticking out. The two immediately began digging to pull him out as he struggled to breathe. Reports say at least four feet of snow weighed on his body. The skier was gasping for air as the rescuers clawed around his head to create more space.
"You hear a big inhale once the snow is off his face," Schmidt said. While they fought to free him, his arm had gone completely limp. Schmidt and the other skier, working at Land Park Ski and Sports in Sacramento, knew they had to act quickly. After much struggle, the skiers were able to rescue the man. "For whatever reason, we stopped and happen to just see tips of the skis in the whiteout, and luckily we did," Schmidt remarked. He added that the experience should encourage skiers to stay safe and stick with a partner, as deep snow can pose risks even without an avalanche or tree well.
On snow-covered ground, even a minor slip can have serious consequences. In another story, a mail carrier, Deanna Chatman, was told that it was not safe to deliver mail during a snowstorm. However, Chatman went anyway to deliver mail to a 96-year-old's house. Upon reaching, she saw the woman waving from the garage. She learned that the elderly woman had fallen near her mailbox, which was at the end of her driveway.
The woman was alone at home and had somehow managed to reach the garage. Chatman immediately called the ambulance and waited until it arrived. At the end, Chatman was glad that she could help the woman in a desperate situation. For her brave act, Chatman was awarded the Postmaster General Award, which is given to exceptional acts of kindness and heroism that reflect positively on the USPS.