This is the dramatic moment a young livestock worker was rescued after surviving eight days trapped in the snow in Spain with little food or firewood.
The man had to take refuge in a tiny wooden shack as the temperature plummeted to sub-zero and huge drifts enveloped the roof.
Two police officers on skis managed to reach him after members of his family raised the alert and he was eventually rescued by an emergency helicopter.
Members of the Rescue and Mountain Group and Civil Guard eventually found the stranded man in his cabin, despite being hampered themselves by the tough conditions
The rescued man was ruining out of food and had no firewood in freezing cold conditions
Help is on it way: The rescued man had to take refuge in a tiny wooden shack as the temperature plummeted below zero and huge drifts enveloped its roof
Huge parts of Spain are still experiencing extreme weather conditions, with snow even on popular tourist beaches and dozens of sightseers caught out when visiting summit beauty spots.
More than 30 provinces are on snow alert, with traditional carnival celebrations in many areas being threatened by the bad weather conditions.
Both Barcelona and Madrid have been under snow, with homeless people being offered free shelter.
The man trapped for eight days in Asturias had ventured out to tend to some livestock but was unable to get home through the drifts.
Weather experts say conditions will improve today after a week of unseasonal conditions
Recent snow in Barcelona – More than 30 Spanish provinces are on snow alert, with traditional carnival celebrations in many areas being threatened by the bad weather
Both Barcelona (above) and Madrid have been under snow while police have been working flat-out in more rural areas to rescue people trapped in blizzards
The sudden dip in temperature this winter has meant the Costa del Sol has been hit by heavy rain and thunderstorms at a time of year when temperatures should have been balmy
Worried relatives told the police they had contact with him for a few days and knew he was inside a shelter in Agüería de Bárzana de Quirós. He told them he had just a little bit of food left but no firewood.
In a later phonecall, he said he had run out of both and after that, nothing else was heard from him.
Members of the Rescue and Mountain Group and Civil Guard eventually found him in the cabin, despite being hampered themselves by the conditions.
Two of the officers on skis had to trample on the snow to make a base for the emergency helicopter to land.
The man had managed to survive and was described as ‘well’ given the extreme circumstances.
The Civil Guard has been involved in numerous other rescues of people trapped in blizzards, including a group of 40 school-children who had to spend a night in a refuge covered by snow.
Weather experts say conditions will improve today after a week of unseasonal conditions.