Local family survives avalanche in French Alps

(MyFoxBoston.com) -- Imagine it: A massive avalanche barreling toward you, and your two small children. It happened to a local family on part of a dangerous mountain called the "corridor of death."

The family survived, and even shot footage of it.

The Sweeney family was attempting to break a world record and raise money for an orphanage. They trained for months, and all that training saved their lives.

The family loves to rock climb but that's is nothing compared to recently, when they were in an avalanche in the French Alps.

Patrick Sweeney is an experienced climber, and he was in the lead. Next was his daughter Shannon, who's 11, and then his 9-year-old son P.J. They were trying to break a world record for the youngest people to climb Mont Blanc.

They were about 11,000 feet up passing through what locals call the "corridor of death."

"The reason is, it's a chute 150 yards wide where rocks and snow often come down and start tumbling down," Patrick said.

That's exactly what happened and then some.

"I heard snow coming down faster," said P.J.
 
"The consistency was so heavy and wet, it was making a noise, and Shannon turned to me and said, 'It sounds like snakes hissing,'" Patrick said.

"It kind of sounded like it was like, 'ssssss,'" Shannon said.

P.J. screamed and fell first, which yanked his sister's harness. Then she fell.

Patrick is just thankful they were all roped together and his ice axe was firmly planted. He says their months of training paid off.

"I would say they were better prepared than 75 percent of people who climb that mountain," said Patrick.

They were three-quarters up the mountain but turned away to safety. They never made it to the top.

And, after all that, they want to go back.

"Yes, I want that record," P.J. said.

"I might do it again but not anytime soon," Shannon said.

FOX 25's Jarrod Holbrook asked Patrick if it was difficult to allow his kids to do the climb.

He said it would be a difficult not to include them, and there's nothing better to teach them courage, discipline, and dedication.
    
He also stressed it was their decision to make, not his.

Cox Media Group