British man skiing off piste among four people killed during an avalanche in the Italian Alps

Thrill-seeker Matt Ziegler, 43, died with a New Zealand friend, named as Sarah Barker, 40, and two French people.

Officials believe the foursome may have taken a ski lift together before heading to an off-piste slope.

It is thought one of the groups may have triggered the avalanche at 8,200ft in Val Veny on Sunday.

The area is near Mt Blanc and the French border.

Police yesterday found them buried under 6ft of snow after pals raised the alarm when Matt and Sarah failed to return to their hotel.

Officers picked up a rescue signal from a device on one of the bodies.

Two of the dead had also activated air bags in a vain bid to “float’’ on the snowfall.

BURIED UNDER 6FT OF SNOW

An official said: “The group was in an off-piste area. They’d gone up together and split.

“We’re looking into the theory that one pair may have started the fall.”

The Foreign Office said it was supporting the family of a British man.

Both Matt, who was married to Victoria, and Sarah lived in London.

The group were among eight people killed in avalanches across the Italian Alps at the weekend.

Experts issued warnings after fresh snow and temperatures rose.

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