British tourist dies after hitting head on snow cannon pole while skiing in Austria

Updated
British-tourist-dies-skiing-austria-hit-snow-cannon
British-tourist-dies-skiing-austria-hit-snow-cannon

A British holidaymaker has died after hitting his head on a metal pole while on a family skiing holiday in Austria.

The 23-year-old lost control on a slope and careered 40ft through the air before crashing into the arm of a snow cannon, reports the Mirror.

The man, named so far only as Alexander, from Coulsdon in South London, had refused to wear his helmet, his mother told police.

In February 2013, a British graduate working as a holiday rep died when he crashed into a snow cannon after drinking four bottles of beer.

Thomas Lynch, 22, was a representative of holiday firm Crystal Ski, part of the TUI travel group, and worked in the resort of La Plagne.

He drank four bottles of beer one morning on his day off while heading off with friends for a day trip to the nearby resort of Val d'Isere.

He reportedly told the group "Watch this!", before embarking on the red run down from the Solaise. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

At the end of last year, a British teen, 16, was killed by an avalanche while skiing with his twin and his father in Austria.

And, just two weeks ago, two British skiers were killed in separate accidents within days while skiing in the Swiss Alps.

Related articles

British tourist killed by avalanche while skiing in India


Two skiers die in Aspen avalanche

Advertisement