Whistler snowboarder survives avalanche thanks to inflatable backpack

Asnowboarder can thank his inflatablebackpack for saving him during an avalanchenear Whistler, B.C. on Wednesday.

Tom Oye posted helmet-cam video of the terrifying incident in theBrandywine area on Facebook, where it has been viewed millions of times.

On mobile and can't see the video? Log into Facebook and view here.

According to an earlier post, Oye who is originally from Australia but now lives in Whistler received the airbag backpackas a birthday gift last month.

David Cote, a local snowmobile guide, was just around the corner from the avalanche and witnessed the tail end of the slide around 10 a.m. PT.

"You could just see him sort of on the surface," he said. "It's hard to say exactly if he would've been buried without it, but I think he's quite lucky that he had the avalanche airbag on."

Cote, who has over a decade of experience on the mountain, was testing the area for avalanche risk about 10 minutes before the slide.

The guide said it was a risky day to be in the backcountry.

"Some of the results we were seeing from our tests were quite scary ... it was very reactive," he said.

The device that helped save Oye appears to be a Black Diamond JetForce avalanche airbag, which retails for around $1,200 Cdn.

It inflateswhen a trigger on the front shoulder strap is pulled.A rechargeable lithium battery powers ajet fan to pump in 200 litres of air in three seconds.

The airbag helps someone caught in an avalanche remainnear the surface of the slide.It also offers some protection from being hit by debris, especially around the head. In the eventa person is buried, theairbag helpscreate anair pocket for breathing.

With files from Rhianna Schmunk