The Austrian public broadcaster ORF reported that a Finnish man perished in an avalanche Saturday in the Austrian Alps. The incident occurred in the Defereggen valley in eastern Tyrol.
The snowboarder was trapped by the wall of snow while out on an unmarked route. His five companions escaped from the slide and alerted local emergency services, but they were unable to assist. Mountain patrols, alpine police and a rescue helicopter took part in the rescue effort.
Over the past few days there have been several fatal accidents in the Alps, as mild weather has caused sheets of snow to break loose as avalanches.
The death was first reported in Finland by the tabloid Ilta Sanomat.