British man among seven killed in Alps avalanches

Eight others escaped uninjured, while one flown to hospital with serious injuries

Man was among 10 people swept away from the slopes at the popular alpine resort of Verbier, Switzerland (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

A British man is among seven people killed in a series of avalanches in the Swiss Alps over the last few days.

The 38-year-old was among a party of 10 who were swept away from the slopes at the popular alpine resort of Verbier, to the east of Geneva, on Monday morning.

Eight others escaped uninjured, local police said, while one was flown to hospital with serious injuries.

The avalanche risk was set at three on a scale of five, meaning there was “considerable danger”, Planet Ski  reported.

The outlet said several helicopters, rescuers and avalanche dog handlers attended the scene to dig out those caught in the avalanche.

They were reportedly all wearing avalanche transceivers and the correct safety equipment.

A police spokesman said: "The avalanche occurred outside the piste between the Verbier ski area and 'Les Attelas'.

"At around 10.20am, a skier was driving down a corridor below the 'Attelas' area.

"A snow drift came loose and carried the skier as well as another person who had been further down at the time."

Police said the 38-year-old, who has not been named and lived in Verbier, died at the scene.

An investigation has been launched.

It comes after several days of heavy snowfall across Switzerland, which has claimed the lives of seven people in total over the last four days.