FOX31 Denver

Man revived after suffocating in snow on Vail slope

Ski slopes in Vail are seen in this file photo. (Photo: Getty Images)

VAIL, Colo. — A group of skiers and snowboarders revived an Ohio man after he suffocated while upside down in deep snow on a Colorado slope.

The Vail Daily reports Michael Laush was celebrating his 40th birthday on Vail Mountain when he became trapped headfirst in snow Saturday.

Tom Nern and Karen Nern, who is CPR-certified, saw a woman screaming for help. They then saw a pair of ski boots sticking out of the ground.

The Nerns, retired OB-GYN Beth McCrann and others started digging Laush out.

Tom Nern says they pulled out a corpse. Laush was purple and wasn’t breathing.

McCrann and Karen Nern performed CPR.

Karen Nern says Laush’s pulse came back after three rounds of chest compressions.

Laush was taken to a Denver hospital and made a quick recovery.