Canadian trapped in home for weeks by snow recovered by police

Canadian officers have rescued a senior man who was trapped in his home for weeks by snow accumulated in his driveway, and around his house, police and local media said.

Called by worried neighbours upon their return from vacation in Florida, the police in the Canadian capital “found a winter’s worth of snow piled high in the driveway with no tracks and no signs of life” at the house, they tweeted Friday.

After forcing their way into the house and fearing the worst, the police found the man alone and alive. He told them that he had been subsisting on what he had in the pantry, rationing and eating canned food.

2/3 When they forced their way in…they found the elderly man inside, alone and alive. He told them that after being snowed in he spent the winter living off whatever he had in the house. Three officers proceeded to dig and snow blow the man out. pic.twitter.com/HsMrVqyD7p

— Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) March 8, 2019

It took officers an hour and a half to clear the snow.

“Officers will bring him groceries and contracting services to ensure he has supports moving forward,” police tweeted.

Ottawa has accumulated more than two meters (yards) of snow since the beginning of winter, including one storm in February during which more than 30 centimetres (12 inches) forced authorities to close the schools.

According to local media, the man is in his 70s and considered a recluse by neighbours.

Police did not say how long he was trapped in his home, but local media said he was stuck there for several weeks.