Man Emerges Alive After 20-Ton Boulder Drops on His Car

David Madison The beautiful, if frightening, French Alps.

Ludovic Masciave somehow made it out alive after a 20-ton boulder fell on his car while driving through the French Alps. The 36-year-old sales manager has much to thank for: he’s expected to make a full recovery.

Masciave was rendered instantly unconscious after the boulder tumbled onto the motor vehicle. “I’d been driving slowly…when suddenly there was a terrible shock which brought the vehicle to a sudden halt. I immediately lost consciousness,” Masciaver reportedly told Le Parisien.

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In fact, the car was so badly mangled that rescuers expected to find Masciave’s dead body. Masciave didn’t emerge unscathed; he did wind up in the hospital with multiple injuries including flattened lungs and broken ribs. When he came to, he realized he was stuck between the rock, the door and dashboard.

A father of two, Masciave knows to count his lucky stars. He reportedly said, “It’s a miracle I’m alive. Although I’m not a believer, I do think this was a miracle… Now I will see life differently.”

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Erica Ho is a contributor at TIME. Find her on Twitter at @ericamho and Google+. You can also continue the discussion on TIME’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.

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