Man survives two months in snow drift

A Swedish man has survived being trapped in his car in a giant snow drift for two months.

The 44-year-old survived by eating handfuls of snow in temperatures as low as -30°C. All he had were cigarettes, comics and a sleeping bag.

Experts believe the cold slowed down his metabolism, like an animal in hibernation.

He was rescued when snowmobile riders spotted movement from the car on a forest track at Umea.

Police said: "He was in a very poor state and could only speak broken sentences. He managed to say he hadn't eaten since December."

He apparently survived by eating snow and was saved by his warm clothing and the "igloo effect" of warm air trapped in his car as temperatures plummeted outside.

The man, who is said to have lost three stone, is now recovering in a hospital in Umea, Sweden.

A police spokesman said: "It is absolutely incredible that he is alive."