Jackson, MS – With first frosts on the horizon across Mississippi, forecasters say overnight temperatures could soon dip into the 30s, marking the start of the state’s winter chill just ahead of Thanksgiving. But imagine being trapped inside your car for two months, surviving only on handfuls of snow.
According to the Daily Mail, a 44-year-old Swedish man was discovered in February 2012 after surviving roughly 60 days snowed-in inside his car near the town of Umea in northern Sweden. Authorities said his vehicle became buried after a snowstorm on December 19, and he lived on snow alone as temperatures plunged to -30°C (-22°F).
Experts described his survival as “incredible.” Some believe his body entered a hibernation-like state, slowing his metabolism, while others credited the “igloo effect” of the snow-covered car, which trapped enough warmth to sustain him.
When rescuers reached him, he was emaciated and barely conscious, wrapped in a sleeping bag with only cigarettes and comic books beside him. Doctors at Umea University Hospital confirmed he suffered from severe hypothermia and malnourishment—but miraculously survived.
With overnight frost warnings expected across central and northern Mississippi, emergency officials urge drivers to keep blankets, snacks, and water in their vehicles and to take extra precautions on rural roads. As the Magnolia State prepares for its first cold snap of the season, one chilling question remains: Could you survive stuck in freezing conditions like he did?
