Is this a miracle? In one the most remarkable video clips you will likely ever see, a skier named Francis Zuber undoubtedly saved a life of a man buried upside down in the snow off-trail on Mt Baker, Washington–after stumbling over the only part of the snowboarder still remaining on the surface.
With a head camera attached, Zuber is skiing through some trees in a heavy snow area when he sees a bit of a snowboard poking out of the snow.
“Whoa!” he says to himself, before turning back to call to the man under the snow.
“You alright?” Zuber asks, getting no response as he climbs back to the board.
As it gets closer, it’s very clear there’s no way the person can respond, so Zuber unhooks his skiis, puts down his poles, and begins digging, realizing how dire the situation is and begins digging, seeing only a foot at first before digging deeper and deeper.
Watch the daring rescue by skier Francis Zuber
“Are you alright? Can you hear me?” Zuber exclaims as he digs deeper and deeper. “Come on!” he screams.
Finally, when he digs deep enough, a hand can be seen moving, and then a ski masks, and as Zuber asks if the man can breathe, the man responds, “yeah”.
“We’re both going to catch our breath for a sec, and then I’ll dig you out, ok?”
“Thank you,” the man asks, before saying “I’m good.”
The buried man’s name is Ian Steger, who posted about the event afterwards, sharing a photo of the two together.
Hero skier and grateful snowboarder become best friends
“thank you for all the love and support from everyone over the past couple of days!” It means the world to me. If I haven’t gotten back to you, it’s not intentional, I’m trying to get through all the texts of love and support. I couldn’t feel more loved and cared for,” he told his Instagram followers.
The Snowboarder then revealed that both he and Zuber had gone skiing and snowboarding together the next day, having become instant friends because of the experience.
“Grateful to be back on the mountain and to get a day in with my new brother Francis Zuber. There are no words to express the gratitude that I have for you,” says Steger.
“Thank you for saving my life.”
If that doesn’t bring a tear to your eye, nothing will.
If you want to follow the hero on Instagram, Francis Zuber’s instagram is here. Ian Steger’s is here.
And thank gosh we finally have a skiing story that doesn’t involve Gwyneth Paltrow!