A grandad from Canterbury has been rescued from a mountain in a military operation after becoming trapped for days during a snowstorm.

Maurice Morsia, 61, of Rough Common, was one of 193 tourists and hotel staff who were stranded on the Stelvio Pass in Italy, a popular skiing spot 140km northeast of Milan, when the country was hit by deadly blizzards which killed 11 people last week.

The father-of-four had been planning to enjoy a weekend of cross-country skiing when the heavy snow and fierce winds of up to 100kmph left the area cut off for four days.

"It was a bit like The Shining," he said. "It started snowing, and then just carried on.

"It kept snowing, day and night. We were getting another six feet of snow on our cars every day. They hadn't had anything like that for 30 years."

The storm, which began last Friday, left Mr Morsia and two friends, Ian Boyd and Tuyen Nguyen, stuck in their hotel with about 30 other people at a height of 2,700 metres while a huge emergency rescue operation was launched.

The group had planned to train for the Engadin cross-country ski marathon in St Moritz next year, but ended up only being able to venture immediately outside the building to pass the time.

"We did get cabin fever," he continued.

"But we just accepted it, and the hotel staff were fantastic. They really looked after us and they fed us for free - they wouldn't accept any money from us.

"There weren't many people there - it was mostly staff as they were just winding down for the season.

"I also only brought one set of clothes, as we thought it was only going to be the weekend and I was going to be in ski gear for most of it. So I did have to wear the same shirt and trousers all week."

Thanks to the rescue operation, Mr Morsia, who works as a business development manager, left the area by vehicle as part of a relief convoy on Wednesday while other tourists were airlifted out via helicopter.

He says he is thankful to have arrived back in the UK last night in time to celebrate his birthday with his wife this evening.

"I was worried I was going to have to spend [my birthday] in the mountains," he continued.

"It will certainly be something to tell the grandkids."