Eight Czechs were swept away by an avalanache in the Tatra mountains near the Polish border early Saturday but one managed to free himself and call the rescue services, the head of the Slovak mountain rescue department, Jozef Janiga, told AFP.

The man's seven companions were found dead after dozens of rescuers and three helicopters were sent to the scene.

Janiga said the group had spent the night in tents in spite of the high avalanche risk.

In the Swiss Alps, a 49-year-old German tourist was killed by an avalanche during a hike in the eastern Urezza valley in the Graubuenden region Friday, police said.

He was swept for several hundred meters (yards).

His wife had alerted the police after he failed to return home Friday night.

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