12 Jan 2011

Fatal avalanche in French Alps

9:17 am on 12 January 2011

Four skiers have been killed in an avalanche in the French Alpine resort of Val d'Isere.

Police Lieutenant-Colonel Jean-Claude Gin said the four - two French citizens, a Briton and a Swede - were among a group who were skiing off-piste.

A fifth skier also caught by the avalanche was rescued unscathed.

A ski instructor was in the group but it was not immediately clear if he was one of those killed.

The BBC reports two who escaped the avalanche raised the alarm.

A British man died late last month after being hit by an avalanche in the same area.

A Frenchman and his two sons were also killed in November.