Ski instructor's warning backfires

A ski instructor was buried in an avalanche while trying to demonstrate the risks of skiing off-piste in Austria.

Avalanche warnings and poor visibility led Guenther Muehlenbach, 28, to take his ski group in Vorarlberg to the edge of the slope to explain the dangers of crossing into the off-piste area.

Ski student Alphons Koflach, 16, said: "Guenther was standing there, just off-piste, telling us never to leave the controlled area because of avalanche risks.

"Suddenly there was a loud rumbling and he disappeared in a cloud of snow."

Muehlenbach was picked up by the avalanche and dumped into a 200-foot deep ravine before being buried under 60 feet of snow.

His students called the mountain rescue team who were able to dig the ski teacher out in time.

Muehlenbach is now being treated for shock and hypothermia.