A British man has died after being buried by one of a series of unusual avalanches at a ski resort in the French alps on Thursday.
According to local authorities, the incident occurred when the 27-year-old individual was alongside a road in Val Thorens. He was carried approximately 50 feet (15 meters) by an avalanche, which led to his heart stopping.
A person who saw what happened informed the nearest law enforcement agents, who then rescued the victim from the snow and provided initial medical assistance.
He was rushed to the hospital in Grenoble but passed away later that same night.
The area had been hit by series of avalanches that morning which forced authorities to close the slopes and sent towns into lockdown.
Meteorologists said snowfalls in the region were the biggest on record at this time of year, with more than a metre falling in a few hours in some areas.
People in Val Thorens as well as the nearby resorts of Tignes and Val-d’Isère were ordered to stay indoors, while roads and schools were closed.
The local prosecution office stated that they have initiated an inquiry into the cause of the man's demise.
A representative from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office stated: "We are assisting the family of a deceased British man in France and maintaining communication with the relevant local officials."
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