By Susan Sandys  July 29 2009

The relevance of avalanche awareness was brought home to Methven Search and Rescue members following a fatal incident in the Ragged Range last Friday.

Members attended a previously organised course at Mt Hutt on Sunday, just two days after a 61-year-old Australian man died in an avalanche while heliskiing nearby.

 Twelve members spent the day below the main carpark at the ski area practising finding simulated avalanche victims.

 They used avalanche transceivers to narrow the search, then a probe line with long poles to ‘feel’ for people, who were buried up to one metre under the snow.

 Member and Mountain Safety Council instructor Kem Johnson was buried by his colleagues, with just his arm out to provide a passage for air.

 Fellow member Lew Shaw described being covered by snow as similar to being cast in concrete.

 “You can`t move a muscle,” he said.

 Mr Johnson said while first response to avalanche calls at Mt Hutt would always be ski patrollers, Methven Search and Rescue would now be able to assist when needed.

 “Speedy response is vital. After 90 minutes under snow, survival plummets to three per cent,” he said.