Tragedy as Australian boy, 16, is buried alive by an avalanche in front of his parents and younger brother while on a skiing holiday in Austria
- Australian teen, 16, killed by avalanche during family skiing holiday in Austria
- Austrian police say the tragedy happened at the St Anton am Arlberg ski village
- The teen was buried alive by avalanche after getting stuck in steep terrain
- The tragedy unfolded in front of his horrified parents and younger brother, 14
- Do you know more? Email daniel.piotrowski@mailonline.com
A European holiday has ended in tragedy for an Australian family after a teenage boy was killed by an avalanche while skiing in Austria.
Local police have confirmed an Australian boy, 16, was buried alive and died in front of his horrified family at the ski village of St Anton am Arlberg on Wednesday.
Police said the boy was skiing with his father, 58, mother, 55, and younger brother, 14, in the late afternoon when they became stuck in very steep terrain and called for help.
The 16-year-old was a student at Sydney's International Grammar School.
The Austrian ski village of St Anton am Arlberg (pictured) has been hit by heavy snowfall in recent days, where a German-Australian boy was killed by an avalanche
An autopsy will determine the cause of the teen's death in St Anton am Arlberg (pictured)
The family was hit by an avalanche as they waited for rescuers to arrive.
'This covered the mother and also the 16-year-old son. The woman was able to free herself from the snow an remained unhurt,' the police statement read.
'The avalanche came to a standstill at the bottom of the valley and had a thickness of up to four metres. The 16-year-old son was completely buried by the snow masses.'
It's understood the teen was buried while skiing with his parents and brother in St Anton am Arlberg (pictured)
Rescuers retrieved the boy's body in two metres of snow 20 minutes after arriving and were unable to revive him.
The teenager's German father and younger brother were uninjured in the avalanche.
International Grammar School principal Shauna Colnan sent out an email to students on Thursday night,
'It is with deep sadness that I write to inform you that one of our students has died in an avalanche while skiing with his family,' she said.
'The school will be open tomorrow and next week, and senior staff, counsellors and I will be there to assist should you require support.'
An autopsy will determine the exact cause of death, which is still the subject of ongoing police investigations.
The ski village is near the borders of Germany and Switzerland (pictured)
At least 15 people have died in the European snow chaos in recent days, including an Australian teenager buried alive by an avalanche in St Anton am Arlberg (pictured)
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for further comment.
At least 15 people have died in the European snow chaos that has caused havoc across the continent in recent days.
The highest red warnings are in place in Germany and Austria with more heavy snow expected to fall in the coming days.
More heavy snow is expected to fall with the highest red warnings are in place in Germany (pictured) and Austria
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