Three British skiers survived a helicopter crash at the top of the Swiss Alps after a passenger survived a horrific avalanche that pushed them to safety.

Edward Courage, heir to the Courage brewery, pushed young brothers Teddy and Guy Hitchens out of their injured helicopter on Tuesday morning before The helicopter fell from the side of the peak of Petit Cambin near Verbier.

Mr Courage, who is in his 70s, kept calm and jumped to safety before the Air-Glaciers B3 helicopter was swallowed up by an avalanche, killing pilot Jerome Lovey and fellow skier James Goff. and expert tour guide Adam George lost their lives.

Hitchens’ parents, Richard and Maeve, said in a statement telegraph: “Our sympathies are with James, Adam and the pilot’s family on their tragic loss.

“Ted was discharged from the hospital today on crutches. Guy is still in the hospital. No surgery required at this time, but badly beaten and bedridden.”

A spokesman for the Valais regional police force said: “After reaching the top of the mountain at an altitude of 3,668 meters, the plane slipped from the north slope. The reason is yet to be determined by investigation.”

Helicopter owner Air Glaciers, which was also involved in the rescue effort, told local media: “We are deeply shocked by this incident. Our hearts go out to the families and relatives of the victims.”

Seven rescue helicopters were deployed to the area to help rescue the two people on board and transport them to a nearby hospital, a police statement said. One other person was rescued, but three others were found dead.

Federal prosecutors will be responsible for the investigation together with regional and national police.

Earlier, an American teenager and two others were killed in an avalanche near the Swiss resort of Zermatt.

Alex Beiga’s swimming coach confirmed the 15-year-old was one of the victims.

“Alex was the first one to say, ‘Yeah, let’s do it, let’s make memories.’ He was so energetic, so full of life,” family friend Emilia Mokus Emilija Mockus) said. “The only calming part for me is that I know how adventurous he is and how much he loves skiing because he’s looking at the most beautiful mountains. “

The avalanche struck around 2pm on Monday in an off-piste area of ​​the Riffelberg, above the resort and below the famous Matterhorn.

Rescuers found three bodies, including the injured skier, a 20-year-old Swiss man.

Last month, a family of five froze to death after being “disoriented” during an ice storm on a ski trip in the Alps.

The five cross-country skiers, members of the same family from canton Valais, went missing on Saturday near the 3,710-metre-high Tetteblanche mountain on the Zermatt-Arora trail.

Brothers Jean-Vincent Moix, 30, David Moix, 27, and Laurent Moix, 21 He was found dead on the mountain alongside their cousin Marc Moix, 44, and uncle Joel Moix, 58.