By Charlie Bayliss For Mailonline and Ap
Published: 16:58 GMT, 20 February 2019 | Updated: 17:01 GMT, 20 February 2019
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Terrifying footage shows the moment holidaymakers skied for their lives as an avalanche swept through a popular Swiss resort.
A Frenchman, 34, whose job was to check to safety of the slopes, died overnight after being injured in the avalanche.
Three others were rescued after being swept away as a torrent of snow swept through Plaine Morte, a glacier near the town of Crans-Montana.
Shocking footage captures the avalanche making its way down slopes in Switzerland
Some skiers become perilously close to the oncoming wave of snow hurtling down the slopes
Footage captured by one of the skiers on their GoPro shows the moments shortly before the avalanche crashed down from the top of the mountains, as skiers desperately tried to avoid being crushed.
Skiers are seen enjoying their time on the slopes just moments before the avalanches starts.
The person filming the moments leading up to the avalanche appear in no rush as they put on their gloves before making their way down the hill.
As they set off, a deep crash is heard in the background and the skier turns around, revealing a white cloud of snow hurtling towards them.
The person speeds up down the hill and seems to encourage others to do the same.
Steve Leger, a spokesman for the Valaid canton police department said: 'Unfortunately, overnight one of the four injured people died.'
Nearly 250 rescue