Skier killed in NZ avalanche

One person was killed and another seriously injured when an avalanche swept away five skiers in New Zealand today, police said.

It was the third deadly avalanche in as many weeks in an area of South Island which is popular with both domestic and international tourists.

The wall of snow crashed down on the skiers in the Methven area, about 50 miles west of the city of Christchurch, a police statement said.

One person died from injuries suffered in the avalanche and another was badly hurt and flown by helicopter to get medical help, police said. The other three escaped serious injury.

Those in the party were not immediately identified.

New Zealand has some of the world’s most pristine alpine landscapes, but the ski slopes can be perilous.

A New Zealand snowboarder died after being buried in an avalanche near Coronet, just 10 miles from Methven, two weeks ago.

An Australian man, who was part of a heli-skiing party, died after being buried in a avalanche in the Ragged Ranges near Methven on July 24.

New Zealand’s Mountain Safety Council issued an avalanche alert last month, warning that warm winds had made conditions dangerous in the Southern Alps.