Snowboarder stuck in drift dies

A young British snowboarder who suffocated after falling head first into a snow drift in the Alps could have been buried for 30 minutes before he was discovered.

The 25-year-old man, who was working a ski season in the resort of Meribel, was found in an off-piste area of the Allues area of the mountain.

It is believed he was unable to release himself from his board.

A spokesman for the Alps mountain rescue estimated the man could have been stuck for as long as half an hour.