British climber dies after being 'swept away' by avalanche in the French Alps

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Alison Dawson was hiking the French Alps when tragedy struck (Image: Getty Images)
Alison Dawson was hiking the French Alps when tragedy struck (Image: Getty Images)

A British climber was killed in an avalanche while on holiday in the French Alps.

Alison Jane Dawson, 45, was hiking up the a mountain range in the snow-blanketed region with her partner and a local tour guide on January 14 when an avalanche rocked the area.

Ms Dawson, an endocrinologist from Ilkley in Yorkshire, was "swept away" when the mass of snow broke loose and tore away the mountainside.

An inquest into her death at Shirehall in Shrewsbury today reported that first responders pronounced her dead when they found her.

Her cause of death was listed as asphyxiation due to complete submersion in an avalanche.

Nicola Bulley's children 'cried their eyes out' after being told 'mummy's lost' qhiqqhiqtdiqzinvNicola Bulley's children 'cried their eyes out' after being told 'mummy's lost'
British climber dies after being 'swept away' by avalanche in the French AlpsAn inquest found she had died from asphyxiation after getting trapped under the snow (Getty Images/EyeEm)

Twelve days after the tragedy, her body was identified at a funeral home in Whitchurch.

Senior coroner for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, John Ellery, concluded that Ms Dawson's death was accidental .

A British teenager died in an avalanche in Switzerland while on a ski tour, two weeks ago, local police reported.

Swiss rescue teams are currently searching for another person who has also been reported missing following Tuesday's disaster.

The avalanche happened in Meiringen, which is located in the Canton of Bern.

The missing person's age, gender and nationality hasn't been revealed.

Local reports say the 18-year-old was originally from England but had been recently living in Bern.

Cops were notified of the avalanche at around 4.25pm on Tuesday, with mountain rescue teams then deployed alongside a helicopter to track down anyone in need of rescue.

The avalanche happened at a ski slope on the Wellhorn mountain called Gstelliwang.

Two members of a ski tour, thought to be the aforementioned victims, were separated from the larger group when the avalanche hit.

Mum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dogMum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dog

Ryan Fahey

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