One dead in Southern Alps avalanche

A heliskier has died in an avalanche in the Arrowsmith Range, in the Southern Alps, this afternoon.

• Open-and-shut case for Milford Road 

Rescuers were notified of the avalanche in Mid Canterbury at 12.25pm.

One person was trapped in the avalanche and was in a critical condition when recovered at around 1pm, police said in a statement.

"Tragically they died a short time later.

"Nobody is unaccounted for following the avalanche, the statement said.

Rescue helicopter pilot Dan McPherson told Stuff a group was in the area heli-skiing when the avalanche happened.