Three Italian skiers died after they were swept away by an avalanche in the Swiss Alps on Saturday, police in the canton of Valais said, dpa reported. They were part of a group of five back-country skiers who had been on a tour near the Great St Bernard Pass on the border with Italy. The entire group was buried in the snow, up to a depth of some 2.5 metres, public broadcaster RTS reported. All five were dug out, but three died in hospital. A fourth victim was being treated in an intensive care unit, while a fifth survived with slight injuries.
