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An 84-year-old woman was discovered by her neighbors after being buried in snow outside her house for over four hours in Mogami, Yamagata Prefecture, police said Saturday.
The woman, who has been named as Kikuto Saito, told police she left her house at around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday to check on frozen daikon in her front garden. Snow that had accumulated on the roof of her two-story house fell on top of her, burying her and leaving her unable to move, TBS reported.
Police say Saito lives with her three sons, who were all out at the time of the incident.
A traveling salesman passed her house at around 3:50 p.m. and is believed to have told Saito's neighbors that he hadn't seen her. According to police, Saito's neighbors became concerned and initiated a search, following which they found her trapped in a mound of snow outside her house. They told police that a small portion of her face was still visible, which helped them to locate her, TBS reported.
Saito was taken to a hospital in Shinsho. Doctors say that she is being treated for hypothermia, but that she is in stable condition, despite her ordeal, and should be discharged within a week.
© Japan Today
21 Comments
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Maria
What a terrifying experience that must have been for her. There is good luck to be found in the most unlikely places.
tmarie
Wow!! That is one strong obachan!!
They told police that a small portion of her face was still visible, which helped them to locate her,
Ya think?
cechanju
ShinJO deshou.
cechanju
But great story.
Serrano
"left her house to check on frozen daikon"
I wouldn't have bothered to do that.
Glad Kikuto is safe!
Ranger_Miffy2
Is this an "only in Japan" kind of tale?
genjuro
Something to be said for obachans. Tsuyoi desune.
Finally nice to hear some good news.
nath
Amazing that this Grandma survived. So sad to read about the elderly people dying in the snow this winter. It's great to read that she was OK.
southsakai
Yes Zichi strong indeed. Wow at her age buried in snow for 4 hours. It's just amazing she survived. It's really wonderful knowing she has such concerned and caring neighbors who went out looking for her, and due to that, she's alive now. If only all neighbors were like this, wouldn't the world be a great place. Great happy news this is!
avigator
Three sons and they let the that much snow accumulate on the roof. Good for her she is alive.
Antonios_M
Good thing there are still neighbors who care about others.
sassarma
It is a miracle that the old woman had survived. Let us pray for her safe life
バングラデシュ さとう
Nice Frozen daikon true story!!
MomoNekko
What a blessing that she is alive. Bless her heart. I wouldn't have been able to withstand that. much love to her!
Dean Ford
Good neighbors.
Elbuda Mexicano
She lives with her 3 sons?? And WHY is granny up on the roof instead of her sons??
cleo
She wasn't on the roof, she was in the front garden and the snow fell on top of her. On a Thursday morning, the sons were likely out at work?
tmarie
Better yet, why are all three sons living at home?? The chonan I get, the other two? Why?
Rose Contemplo
i was stunned by the courage of this old woman for her love of daikon. omoshiroi desu ne obachan. cheers!wish you more good health and more lifelong to enjoy.
cactusJack
Why you should always carry a pocket flask of whiskey.