Buried alive, snowboarder used every 3rd breath to scream for help

A Golden, B.C., snowboarder says he feels lucky to be alive after falling into a"coffin-like" snow holewhere he was trapped for fivehours.

Trevor Hamrewas stoked to beridingon opening day atKicking Horse Mountain late last month, butin the middle of a run the 40-year-old expert snowboarderhit a hidden logand tumbledinto a hole,suddenly findinghimself buried and pinned under twofallen trees,withbarely enough room to breathe.

"It was really scary," said Hamre."I slid right into an air pocket but the snow came down on top of me.I had much less space than a coffin."

Hamresaid despite the feeling of being suffocated, he did his best not to panic, usingevery third breathto scream out for help.

"I was stuck, man. I could move my hands acrossmy chest and face but that was it," he said.

"I wasn't physically broken in any way, shape or form.I had all my faculties but couldn't do anything."

Luckily, just as the resort was closing, a skier heard Hamre'spleasfor help and alerted the ski patrolwho dug him out.

Hamresays being buried alive for a day has given him a new perspective on life.

"It was a blessing in disguise really. I'm making a new bucket list, planning new things. It's like I shaved off all my anxieties and fears."