An elderly man who went missing for nearly a week has miraculously survived by eating snow and croissants after a snowstorm trapped him in his car. According to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/InyoCountySheriffsOffice/posts/520494946932749">Inyo County Sheriff's Office</a>, rescue workers and a helicopter search in California spotted a missing man named Jerry Alan Jouret waving from the window of his vehicle on March 2. The 81-year-old was last heard from on February 24 as he was traveling in his dark green Ford Escape from Big Pine to Gardnerville, Nevada - which is about 170 miles away, before he got trapped due to the sudden snowstorm - something that's highly unusual for the area. Thankfully, he was saved from Death Valley Road and rushed to the hospital before being discharged the same day after medics examined him and saw that he was well. Check out the pictures and police statement below:  [[facebookwidget||https://www.facebook.com/InyoCountySheriffsOffice/posts/520494946932749]] Photographs posted by the sheriff's office on Facebook revealed heaps of snow covering much of the area along Death Valley Road where Jerry was found. According to <a href="https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/elderly-man-rescued-week-trapped-california-snow">Fox Weather</a>, the man told his family that the main freeway he'd usually take was shut because of the weather, so he chose to take the smaller route which is Highway 168 to make it to Gardnerville. However, driving through the blizzard proved to be tough for him as he accidentally swerved onto an even smaller road where he eventually got stuck. So, he ended up being trapped in his car for nearly seven days and lived off of snow and some croissants he had brought with him for the journey. His relieved brother, Joe Jouret, spoke with <a href="https://patch.com/california/across-ca/miracle-chp-rescues-man-81-snow-covered-suv-after-6-nights">Patch</a> about the unbelievable ordeal and remarked: "I just really believe it was a miracle. "[The helicopter pilot] was about out of gas," he continued, recalling when his brother was found. "But he looked down and he saw what looked like a rock as he looked down. "He had another man with him in the helicopter…and as they looked down there, it was [my brother's] car. He was almost buried in snow, but not quite. He took his hand out of the window and waved it," Joe added. [[facebookwidget||https://www.facebook.com/christian.jouret.3/posts/2410862395749499]] Jerry's family members have been sharing the happy news of his rescue on their social media, with grandson Christian Jouret penning: "After 6 days and 6 nights of being trapped in a car under snow freezing with no food, water and a very thin blanket my Grandfather was rescued today by helicopter. "I want to thank every single prayer warrior out there and the amount of love and support for my grandfather has been mind-blowing. The power of prayer is a force that cannot be stopped," he added. Law enforcement also expressed their support to everyone involved for helping save Jerry's life, writing: "The success of this mission was the result of the many volunteers who commit their personal time to serve as members of Inyo County Search and Rescue." [[facebookwidget||https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2410238522478553&set=a.252854798216947]] "The Inyo County Sheriff’s Office, CHP Inland Division Air Operations, Caltrans District 9," they continued in the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/InyoCountySheriffsOffice/posts/520494946932749">statement</a>. "As well as many members of the community - both near and far - who offered planning, logistical, and moral support." Joe revealed to the <a href="https://patch.com/california/across-ca/miracle-chp-rescues-man-81-snow-covered-suv-after-6-nights">publication</a> that his brother was "smiling all the way back to the airport," adding: "He was happy to get out of that situation." <h6>Featured image credit: Ironstring / Alamy</h6>

Man, 81, survived being trapped in snowstorm by eating only snow and croissants for a week

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