A skier in Switzerland has been rescued after spending 17 hours buried under snow.

The 21-year-old Swiss citizen was caught in an avalanche on Saturday and was buried under half a metre of snow. He was able to survive for 17 hours because of an air pocket.
 

Rescue workers say the man was suffering only slightly from the cold and that it is remarkable he had no worse problems.

photo: Swiss avalanche (flickr/curious expeditions)