An Irishman killed in a helicopter crash in the Swiss Alps has been named.
James Goff, who was in his 30s, was one of three people who died when the a B3 type helicopter came down at Petit Combin mountain.
Another three people were injured when the helicopter slid off a landing site on Tuesday morning.
According to the Irish Independent Mr Goff was heir to the Goffs' estate in Rathdrum in Co Wicklow.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is ready to provide consular assistance to his family.
Broadcaster Vincent McAviney told Newstalk Breakfast it was a heli-ski trip that went wrong.
"There were six people on board - four skiers, one guide and then the helicopter pilot," he said.
"Having reached the summit of the mountain, which is about 3,668 metres above sea level, for reasons the investigation has yet to determine, the aircraft seems to have crashed than then slid down the northern slope in what then became an avalanche."
'They managed to survive'
Mr McAviney said one of the passengers, who is aged in his 70s, saved another two.
"One of the passengers Edward Courage, who is part of the Courage brewery family, he pushed two British brothers - Teddy and Guy Hitchens - out of the doomed aircraft.
"They all slid substantial ways in that avalanche but they did manage to survive this crash".
Mr Courage was found five hours later with the help of a transceiver and is being treated in hospital.
"The pilot was local father-of-two Jerome Lovey died in the crash along with the guide Adam George, who is originally from New Hampshire in the United States," he said.
A name has not yet been released of the Irishman who died.
'Horrific'
Mr McAvinney said a person who saw the avalanche described what happened.
"A skier who arrived at the summit shortly after the incident said they saw the avalanche, that it was horrific," he said.
"They saw the helicopter caught up... they heard about the crash over radios and were advised to get off the mountain," he added.
Heli-skiing is a type of backcountry skiing which involves using a helicopter to access remote areas.
The Swiss Safety Investigation Service (SESE) has opened an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
