France, March 24 -- French former world snowboard championJulie Pomagalski has diedin an avalanche in Switzerland, it emerged on Wednesday. She had been accompanied by a guide, who also died.

The 40-year-old was part of a group of freeriders that was descending the 3,000 metre peak Gemsstock in Uri, Switzerland when a patch of snow broke off.

Ski Chrono reported thatBruno Putelli, a guide and rescuer with the CRS des Alpes in Albertville, also died.

Other members of the group managed to escape and raise the alarm.

"The tragic death of Julie, world snowboard champion and Olympian, leaves the French Olympic team in mourning for one of its own," the French Olympic committee wrote on Twitter.

Pomagalski, who was born near Grenoble, was s...