A 27-year-old Swiss skier tragically lost his life in an avalanche in Arolla, Valais, on Friday afternoon.

The man was skiing with a companion on the Glacier de Cheilon when the snow beneath his skis gave way, sweeping him down the slope.

Despite a swift rescue operation involving Air-Glaciers and local authorities, he succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Sion.

This marks the second avalanche fatality in Switzerland this winter, following the death of snowboarder Sophie Hediger earlier this month.

According to the Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research, there have already been 22 avalanche incidents this season, highlighting the ongoing dangers in the Alps.