Sunday May 27, 2012

84-year-old woman found alive after being buried in snow for 4 hours

YAMAGATA —

An 84-year-old woman was discovered by her neighbors after being buried in snow outside her house for over four hours in Mogami, Yamagata Prefecture, police said Saturday.

The woman, who has been named as Kikuto Saito, told police she left her house at around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday to check on frozen daikon in her front garden. Snow that had accumulated on the roof of her two-story house fell on top of her, burying her and leaving her unable to move, TBS reported.

Police say Saito lives with her three sons, who were all out at the time of the incident.

A traveling salesman passed her house at around 3:50 p.m. and is believed to have told Saito’s neighbors that he hadn’t seen her. According to police, Saito’s neighbors became concerned and initiated a search, following which they found her trapped in a mound of snow outside her house. They told police that a small portion of her face was still visible, which helped them to locate her, TBS reported.

Saito was taken to a hospital in Shinsho. Doctors say that she is being treated for hypothermia, but that she is in stable condition, despite her ordeal, and should be discharged within a week.

Japan Today

  • 0

    Maria

    What a terrifying experience that must have been for her. There is good luck to be found in the most unlikely places.

  • 4

    zichi

    The old girl must be very strong. This also one of the reason why people want to remove the roof snow which too often costs them their lives. Good she has neighbors who care, not always so common these days!

  • -3

    tmarie

    Wow!! That is one strong obachan!!

    They told police that a small portion of her face was still visible, which helped them to locate her,

    Ya think?

  • 0

    cechanju

    ShinJO deshou.

  • -1

    cechanju

    But great story.

  • -1

    Serrano

    "left her house to check on frozen daikon"

    I wouldn't have bothered to do that.

    Glad Kikuto is safe!

  • -6

    Ranger_Miffy2

    Is this an "only in Japan" kind of tale?

  • -1

    genjuro

    Something to be said for obachans. Tsuyoi desune.

    Finally nice to hear some good news.

  • 2

    Cindy DeVane Reynolds

    Amazing that this Grandma survived. So sad to read about the elderly people dying in the snow this winter. It's great to read that she was OK.

  • 1

    southsakai

    zichiFEB. 04, 2012 - 04:47PM JST The old girl must be very strong. This also one of the reason why people want to remove the roof snow which too often costs them their lives. Good she has neighbors who care, not always so common these days!

    Yes Zichi strong indeed. Wow at her age buried in snow for 4 hours. It's just amazing she survived. It's really wonderful knowing she has such concerned and caring neighbors who went out looking for her, and due to that, she's alive now. If only all neighbors were like this, wouldn't the world be a great place. Great happy news this is!

  • -1

    avigator

    Three sons and they let the that much snow accumulate on the roof. Good for her she is alive.

  • 2

    Antonios_M

    Good thing there are still neighbors who care about others.

  • 1

    sassarma

    It is a miracle that the old woman had survived. Let us pray for her safe life

  • 0

    バングラデシュ さとう

    Nice Frozen daikon true story!!

  • 2

    MomoNekko

    What a blessing that she is alive. Bless her heart. I wouldn't have been able to withstand that. much love to her!

  • 1

    Dean Ford

    Good neighbors.

  • -4

    Elbuda Mexicano

    She lives with her 3 sons?? And WHY is granny up on the roof instead of her sons??

  • 1

    cleo

    WHY is granny up on the roof instead of her sons??

    She wasn't on the roof, she was in the front garden and the snow fell on top of her. On a Thursday morning, the sons were likely out at work?

  • -1

    tmarie

    Better yet, why are all three sons living at home?? The chonan I get, the other two? Why?

  • 0

    Rose Contemplo

    i was stunned by the courage of this old woman for her love of daikon. omoshiroi desu ne obachan. cheers!wish you more good health and more lifelong to enjoy.

  • 0

    cactusJack

    Why you should always carry a pocket flask of whiskey.

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