Family of 17 trapped after huge avalanche but still happy

A massive avalanche has trapped a family of 17 on a skiing trip in a remote lodge – but with wine, food, sport on the television and a ‘good sense of humour’ they are happy to settle in.

Nick Carter was with 16 other members of his extended family on a ski trip near Lake Ohau on New Zealand’s South Island when they woke up to find an avalanche had blocked the only way out from the lodge they were staying in on Saturday.

‘It looks like a river flowing flowing down the mountain,’ Mr Carter told Stuff.

The heavy snow came down on Friday night, meaning they woke up on Saturday morning with no escape

A digger is expected to come and clear a path through the snow on Sunday morning so the family can escape

A digger was expected to clear a path on Sunday morning, which meant the large family would be stuck in the hut until then – not that Mr Carter seemed too unhappy with the wait.

‘We’ve got plenty of wine, a wee bit of food and a good sense of humour,’ he said.

He said the power was still on at the lodge, a fire was burning and they were planning to watch the All Blacks play Argentina in a rugby union test later on Saturday night.

‘It is a bit of fun for everyone.’

It’s not the first time the family has been caught out by an avalanche on their annual ski trip, with a monster snowfall disrupting their visit eight years ago, putting the power out and taking five days to clear.

Mr Carter said he is not worried about having to stay overnight in the lodge as they have a warm fire going and ‘plenty of wine’ (stock image)

The family have been trapped by an avalanche before on their annual ski trip, as one eight years ago knocked the power out