Snowmobiler saves brother from avalanche in Utah: ‘Christmas miracle’

A fast-acting snowmobiler saved his brother from being killed in an avalanche in Utah — a death-defying feat his family is calling a “Christmas miracle.”

Hunter and Braedon Hansen were enjoying the great outdoors at around 8,400 feet in Logan Canyon on Tuesday when an avalanche descended upon them.

“I saw the snow ripple and knew that was an avalanche,” said Braeden.

Hunter Hansen was buried in snow after an avalanche in Utah on Tuesday. Utah Avalanche Center

Hunter was tossed some 150 yards by the fast-moving snow in Franklin Basin, near the Idaho border — which he said felt like concrete whacking him.

“It just washed me down the mountain,” he told NBC News. “The most violent thing I’ve ever felt.”

“Couldn’t breathe, couldn’t do anything,” he said. “I slammed into a rock or a tree.”

Braeden, who was ahead of his brother, sprang into action, locating his brother with a beacon device and immediately starting to dig.

“I could see his hand, his gloves, kind of poking out, waving,” Braeden said.

“But by the time I got to him … his head was about 2 feet under the snow.”

The brothers were carrying safety equipment in case of an avalanche. Utah Avalanche Center

“I just cleared the snow away from his head and got his helmet off so that he could start breathing again, and then just started digging his body out from there,” Braeden said.

Hunter remembered the terror of holding onto his “last breath” as he waited for help.

“There was just a sigh of relief when I felt him start digging,” he recalled.

Hunter, a married father, only suffered minor injuries and the pair were able to ride back to safety in what his family are calling a “Christmas miracle.”

Officials from the Utah Avalanche Center said the avalanche was caused by a “persistent weak layer” of snow on the slop.

The siblings are experienced snow travelers and travel with radios and beacons — which allow them to find each other, as well as shovels and airbag devices in case of an avalanche, they told NBC News.

While he was stuck in the snow, Hunter was able to hear his brother talk to his father as he searched for him.

“You hear so many tragic stories of people getting buried in avalanches and not making it out, so I feel very blessed and lucky,” Hunter said.