Vancouver Sun | Snow worries: Mates' early birthday gift helps Australian escape avalanche The Sydney Morning Herald An Australian man has survived an avalanche in the Canadian Rockies thanks to an early surprise gift from his friends. Tom Oye, an Adelaide man, who has been living in the ski resort of Whistler for about three years, went snowboarding on Thursday ... Snowboarder survives avalanche descent in Canada with help of inflatable backpack Avalanche shock as Aussie boarder swept down mountain Video: Inflatable backpack saves snowboarder during avalanche near Whistler |