Avalanche hits school group in the French Alps

One child is dead and five are missing after a school group and teacher were buried by an avalanche in the French Alps.

Two children have suffered cardiac arrest.

The group of 10 pupils and an adult was reportedly from Lyon and was on a week’s holiday in the area.

Two police helicopters and an emergency rescue helicopter are on the scene along with around 30 mountain rescuers.

The incident took place near the Bellecombes slope in the French alps, south west of Grenoble.

The dangers of off-piste skiing have made headlines twice this year already, after four skiers have died in three separate avalanches in the French Alps.

Commander Bertrand Host told BFM television that there had been an avalanche warning in the area before the snow slide. Venosc Mayor Pierre Balme told the paper the avalanche occurred on a closed ski run.