Young mountaineer survives 12 hours trapped after avalanche on Cerro López.

Augusto Gruttadauria, a 29-year-old mountaineer from Córdoba, has been the protagonist of an astonishing survival story after being rescued on Cerro López, where he was trapped for more than 12 hours following an avalanche. His experience reflects not only his bravery but also the survival instinct that drove him to fight tirelessly against the elements to stay alive. Gruttadauria is currently hospitalized in Bariloche, receiving medical care and emotional support after his traumatic experience. The avalanche occurred on Wednesday afternoon when a snow slide of approximately one kilometer was triggered on the mountain, burying Augusto. At three-thirty in the morning the following day, after a superhuman effort, he managed to remove the last layer of snow covering him almost completely, allowing him to bring his arms to the surface. This incredible act of resistance was not easy; it required exhausting physical work that took him nearly half a day. The decisive moment came when, with the last breath of battery on his cellphone, Gruttadauria managed to contact 911. "I'm on Cerro López, an avalanche hit me. I can barely breathe because I made a hole, but my legs are trapped," were his first words. The operator, visibly surprised yet professional, promised him that a rescue team was on the way, while he, with a tone of desperation but maintaining his composure, thanked her for the response and expressed his hope of being rescued. The activation of the rescue operation was immediate, although the rescuers knew that the chances of finding him alive were becoming increasingly slim. The time elapsed since the avalanche was not in his favor, and concern grew in the hearts of his loved ones, who anxiously awaited news of his whereabouts. Despite the difficult situation, Gruttadauria's friends mentioned that he did not realize how long he had been fighting against the snow, as for him, those moments seemed to fly by. "He wasn't aware that he had been struggling against the snow for 12 hours; for him, it felt like a couple of hours," his friends commented in the hospital. This mental state, in which time distorts in extreme situations, seems to have played a crucial role in his endurance. With his head poking out of a small hole in the snow, Gruttadauria described how a kind of igloo formed around him. However, as he brought his arms out, the cold began to intensify, prompting him to seek creative ways to stay warm. One of the methods he used was urinating in a bottle and using it as a heat source, a resource that reflects his ingenuity and determination in a critical moment. The hostile environment and desperation did not manage to break Gruttadauria's resilient spirit. "The survival spirit of 'Colo' was what kept him from abandoning hope that he would be rescued at any moment," those who know him intimately emphasize. This mental strength was essential for keeping him focused on his goal: to survive until the rescuers arrived. Finally, after a rescue operation that lasted several hours, the rescuers were able to locate Gruttadauria, who was urgently taken to the hospital in Bariloche. His health is stable, although he is still under observation. The mountaineering community and his loved ones celebrate his miraculous rescue, relieved that 'Colo' emerged alive from such a terrifying experience. Augusto's story is not only a testament to his bravery but also highlights the importance of the human survival instinct in extreme circumstances. His experience will serve as a reminder of the fragility of life and the need to always be prepared for the whims of nature. In this sense, his story will inspire many to reflect on safety in the mountains and respect for the elements that can become unpredictable.