A New Zealander is among six skiers who went missing after being carried away by an avalanche during a trek in the French Alps.
Carol Nash-Hamilton, who'd lived in France since the 1990s, was among a party of six experienced skiers, aged between 50 and 70, who left on Saturday for a hike, known as ski touring, in the range which straddles France and Italy but triggered an avalanche, the office of the Hautes-Alpes region said.
French rescuers carry on January 25, 2015 in church of Ceillac the body
of one of six skiers - victims of an avalanche a day earlier in the
French Alps. Photo / AP A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat)
spokesman said it was aware of media reports that Ms Nash had died in
the avalanche over the weekend.
"The New Zealand Embassy in Paris has followed up with the local French authorities who have confirmed the death of Carol Nash," he said.
The ministry was in contact with Ms Nash's family, who had requested privacy, he said.
Ms Nash-Hamilton was born in New Zealand but had lived in France since the early 90s, and the mother-of-one ran a physiotherapy and osteopathy clinic, TVNZ reported.
The bodies of three victims were found at the foot of the avalanche in a small valley at an altitude of 2500 metres, before bad weather forced a halt to rescue efforts.
A team of 18 rescue workers, backed by a helicopter and sniffer dogs, later discovered the rest of the missing team of hikers.
"The bodies of the other three victims were also found at the site of the avalanche," Captain Sarah Chelpi of the mountain police told AFP.
Around 30 people die annually in avalanches in France, whose mountain ranges attract snow buffs from around the world.
The Association for Snow and Avalanche Studies said 11 people had already died since the start of the 2014/2015 winter season.
This week has been particularly deadly for snow sports.
Two skiers, aged 51 and 60, were found dead on Thursday after being swept away in an avalanche in the Ecrins mountain range in the Alps.
On Friday a 46-year-old woman died in an avalanche in the Savoie region, straddling the border with Italy, and a British skier fell to his death after losing a ski while descending Mont Blanc.
Carol Nash-Hamilton, who'd lived in France since the 1990s, was among a party of six experienced skiers, aged between 50 and 70, who left on Saturday for a hike, known as ski touring, in the range which straddles France and Italy but triggered an avalanche, the office of the Hautes-Alpes region said.
"The New Zealand Embassy in Paris has followed up with the local French authorities who have confirmed the death of Carol Nash," he said.
The ministry was in contact with Ms Nash's family, who had requested privacy, he said.
Ms Nash-Hamilton was born in New Zealand but had lived in France since the early 90s, and the mother-of-one ran a physiotherapy and osteopathy clinic, TVNZ reported.
The bodies of three victims were found at the foot of the avalanche in a small valley at an altitude of 2500 metres, before bad weather forced a halt to rescue efforts.
A team of 18 rescue workers, backed by a helicopter and sniffer dogs, later discovered the rest of the missing team of hikers.
"The bodies of the other three victims were also found at the site of the avalanche," Captain Sarah Chelpi of the mountain police told AFP.
Around 30 people die annually in avalanches in France, whose mountain ranges attract snow buffs from around the world.
The Association for Snow and Avalanche Studies said 11 people had already died since the start of the 2014/2015 winter season.
This week has been particularly deadly for snow sports.
Two skiers, aged 51 and 60, were found dead on Thursday after being swept away in an avalanche in the Ecrins mountain range in the Alps.
On Friday a 46-year-old woman died in an avalanche in the Savoie region, straddling the border with Italy, and a British skier fell to his death after losing a ski while descending Mont Blanc.
