US ski team prospects die in avalanche

Two prospects from the US ski team have died in an avalanche while skiing in the Austrian Alps, officials say.

Two prospects from the US ski team have been killed in an avalanche while skiing near their European training base in the Austrian Alps.

The US ski team says Ronnie Berlack, 20, and Bryce Astle, 19, died on Monday in an incident near Rettenbach glacier, the venue for the annual season-opening World Cup races.

Berlack and Astle were part of a group of six skiers who were descending from the 3056-metre Gaislachkogel when they left the prepared slope and apparently set off the avalanche. The other four escaped unhurt.

Officials in the Tyrolean region say an avalanche alert had been declared for the area after days of heavy snowfall and mild temperatures.

US Alpine director Patrick Riml says the team "is in shock".


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Source: AAP


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