>> it was about 15 minutes, there was no sign of life. i had a big lens on her. she wasn't moving at all. i just broke down in tears. it was horrible. >> bridgette lies motionless for 20 minutes while paramedics work on her, and then suddenly, the first good sign. >> i'm looking through my camera at one of my best friends and at that point in time, i had tears in my eyes and everything. suddenly, i saw her leg move. i knew she was alive. >> rescuers stabilize her and are able to bring her down the mountain to a waiting helicopter. she's choppered to a local hospital. then airlifted to providence alaska medical center in anchorage. >> it's amazing that she was alive. >> e.r. doctor janet smalley is on duty that day. she's encouraged bridgette's vital signs are good but knows the extreme skier fell hard over some unforgiving terrain. >> we see skiers that hit their head and have severe brain damage or die because of the trauma to their head.