Two people were rescued from an avalanche in Switzerland after their dogs frantically barked to help them, officials said.
The couple was trapped while on a hiking trail in the Avers Valley near the Italian border around 3pm on Saturday, Rega air ambulance service said.
“Their dogs, who were not buried by the snow masses, drew attention to themselves for barking loudly,” officials said Sunday.
“The dogs caught the attention of a group of snowshoes that were at some distance in the same valley, but that had not witnessed the avalanche.”
Emergency crews were called and were able to reach the couple between 15 and 20 minutes later.
One of the hikers was completely buried, while the other’s hands were visible, officials said.
The crew dug them up and took them to the hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries and mild hypothermia.
Details about the couple, including their identities, were not immediately reported.
With publishing cables