Lt Colonel Mike Couillard is a US Air Force pilot based in Turkey who goes for a day's skiing with his 10-year-old son, Matthew. In a freak snowstorm they lose the marked trail and get hopelessly lost.
They struggle on until nightfall, but don't realise they are heading into a wilderness. Tired, hungry and cold, Matthew can go no further. Eventually, Mike finds a cave which provides some shelter. Despite a massive search operation, days pass and there's no sign of rescue.
Back at their apartment, Mike's wife, Mary, and their other children can only wait and pray. Meanwhile, Mike is forced to make the agonising decision on whether to leave his son alone in a cave and go for help or to stay put and hope help comes.
In the end, Mike decides to leave Matthew and go for help. After an agonising couple of days, lost, weak and worried sick about his son, Mike is spotted by passing woodcutters. Miraculously, Matthew also survives his nine-day ordeal.
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