Kerala man stranded in snowy Italian mountain rescued by Italian Air Force

Kochi: A Malayali teenager miraculously survived after being stranded on a snowy mountainside in Italy. The young trecker, identified as Anoop Kozhikadan, hailing from Kanjoor in Kalady, was rescued by the Italian Air Force. 

Anoop and his Italian friend trekked up a snow-capped mountain 2,400 metres above sea level last week in the Abruzzo, near Rome. Just as they were nearing the peak, unexpected obstacles arose in the form of growing darkness and heavier snowfall, making their journey even more difficult than they had imagined.

Anoop fell down the hill in a daze due to the darkness and got buried under the snow. Realising they were facing danger, they called Italy's helpline for assistance. Even though two helicopters were dispatched to conduct rescue operations, none of the attempts were successful. As the sky darkened, the rescue crew stopped operations and requested assistance from the Italian Air Force. 

The Air Force crew, accompanied by their helicopter, swiftly arrived on the scene. Within minutes, Anoop and his companion were rescued. Anoop's body temperature had plummeted dangerously low due to being buried in snow. He was promptly rushed to the hospital, where he underwent treatment that ultimately saved his life.