Freiburg police said the turn of fate occurred on Sunday afternoon near Feldberg, while the woman was walking with a 28-year-old friend.

He went through a top layer of snow and fell into a deep hollow and into the creek below, without being able to let go.

More and more snow was falling on her and rescue teams were unable to dig her up for several hours, said police, who was taken to hospital but died overnight.

The local SWR broadcaster reported that there were several avalanche after the twist of fate that confused rescue efforts, and that the woman lay under the snow in the water at the back of the three-meter (10-foot) deep gap until she found.

A rescue helicopter couldn’t fly either because of bad weather and darkness.

The woman’s partner was treated for shock, but also unscathed.

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