Caught On Tape: Three Snowboarders Swept Up In An Avalanche

This is the heart stopping moment when a massive avalanche engulfs three snowboarders in Italy - where nine people have been killed in similar incidents in just 48 hours. The trio are seen zig-zagging across fresh snow - which is not recommended on new falls - on a sunlit day but their carefree attitude quickly turns to drama as one of them triggers the deadly avalanche. Tons of snow are seen roaring down the side of the mountain as the three boarders frantically try to escape but one by one they are picked off - the dramatic moment filmed by a walker on another slope. The walker immediately alerted police and mountain rescue teams who raced to the slope at Piancavallaro on the 2165m high Mt Cimone in the Italian Appenines close to Modena. Despite a search lasting more than four hours using dogs, heat seeking equipment and a helicopter no trace of the three was found and police believe they escaped unhurt. However carabinieri have launched an investigation and are trying to track down the three for apos;provoking an alarmapos; which under Italian law carries a maximum six month jail sentence.