Man Frozen 'To Death' Miraculously Recovers

Justin Smith was found frozen in a snow bank for at least 10 hours, unconscious and without a pulse--yet a successful resuscitation saved his life.

The 25-year-old Pennsylvania resident had fallen while walking home in a snowstorm in McAdoo, Pa., according to Fox Health. Then, when family couldn't find him, they went out searching.

It was when his father, Don, found his son's boot stuck in a snowbank that they investigated the scene. 

"He was blue... his face, he was lifeless. I checked for a pulse, I checked for a heartbeat, there was nothing," Don said, according to ABC News.

He was immediately sent to the Lenigh Valley Hospital in Hazleton, Pa., where paramedics performed CPR on Justin-otherwise known as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

CPR can help revitalize someone who is not breathing and without a pulse. If you're well-trained and confident in your ability, begin with chest compressions instead of first checking the airway and doing rescue breathing. Start CPR with 30 chest compressions before checking the airway and giving rescue breaths, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, if you're untrained or trained by rusty, health officials recommend uninterrupted chest compressions of about 100 a minute until paramedics arrive without the rescue breaths.

"Next thing, I know I'm waking up in Cedar Crest Hospital. Family was all around me. I was shocked," Justin told Fox29. "I knew my pinkies were gone; it could have been a lot worse. They went the extra effort and I can't thank them enough."

Dr. Jame's Wu of the Lehigh Valley Health Network says that Justin is fully recovered and completely normal after the experience. However, he did lose his toes and pinky fingers. 

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