A British teenager who was killed in an avalanche during a ski trip in Switzerland has been named as Archie Harvey.
The 18-year-old was one of a group of students from a Swiss boarding school skiing in Meiringen, in the canton of Bern, on the afternoon of March 21, when an avalanche struck. Mr Harvey’s body was found the same day.
Mr Harvey had previously attended school in the UK, but had moved to Bern and was a student at the Ecole d'Humanité international school.
The school, in the town of Hasliberg, is a short distance from the area where the students were skiing.
At the time of the incident, the school said in a statement: “We regret this terrible accident and are deeply saddened.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences and sympathy to all students, their families and relatives.”
According to Swiss media, Bern police received a report at 4.25pm on Tuesday 21 March that "an avalanche had fallen near the Gstelliwang and two ski tourers had been buried".
The Gstelliwang is a ski slope on the northwest face of the Wellhorn, a mountain in the Bernese Alps at a height of around 2,117 metres.
It is understood that Mr Harvey and his classmate were travelling down the slope when the avalanche struck.
Swiss Alpine Rescue, helicopters, mountain specialists and police were called in to join the search effort.
The Ecole d’Humanité describes itself as “one of the most renowned boarding schools in Switzerland” and “the only boarding school in Europe offering a truly progressive education in both English and German”.
Students are encouraged to take advantage of the school’s mountain setting and “discover the principles of aerodynamics on the ski slope” or “wander the Alps, making memories and friendships that last a lifetime”.
American Emily Franciose had previously been identified as the other student who went missing in the avalanche.
She was known for her “spiritedness, kindness and friendship”, the school she previously attended in Colorado, Vail Mountain School, said in a statement reported in local media at the time of her disappearance.
“Her loss is deeply felt by all those who knew her, and our hearts go out to the Franciose family during this difficult time.”
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