Avalanche Kills Three in Switzerland
American Teenager Among the Victims
Three people, including an American teenager, have been killed in an avalanche near the Swiss resort of Zermatt.
The avalanche occurred on Saturday afternoon as the three victims were skiing off-piste in the Riffelberg area. The victims were all members of the same group and were aged 15, 24, and 26. The injured victim is a 28-year-old man who is currently in a serious condition in hospital.
The avalanche was triggered by a group of skiers who were skiing above the victims. The avalanche swept the victims down a steep slope and buried them in snow. The victims were quickly located by rescue teams, but they were declared dead at the scene.
The American teenager who was killed has been named as 15-year-old William Holmes from Denver, Colorado. Holmes was on a ski trip with his family when the avalanche occurred. The other two victims were a 24-year-old man from Switzerland and a 26-year-old woman from Germany.
The avalanche is a reminder of the dangers of skiing off-piste. The snowpack in the Alps is currently unstable due to recent heavy snowfall and strong winds. Skiers are advised to stay on marked trails and to be aware of the avalanche risk.
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