A teenager has died in Austria after being caught in an avalanche while skiing, in the latest death caused by the severe weather gripping Europe.

Police officers said the Australian teenager died on Wednesday in the Alpine village of St Anton am Arlberg, where he was staying with his family.

The schoolboy had been skiing with his parents and brother when the family found themselves in an off-piste area covered in deep snow.

They contacted the emergency services but an avalanche swept the teenager for hundreds of metres before rescuers could arrive.

The unnamed boy’s 52-year-old mother was also caught up in the avalanche but managed to free herself from the snow without injury, according to local newspaper Tiroler Tagszeitung.

Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Show all 24 1 /24 Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Germany Workers clear snow from the tracks around a classic steam locomotive AP Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Germany German Army Soldiers clear roof of a grammar school from the snow in Berchtesgaden EPA Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Germany A track vehicle of the German army provides food to a village near Berchtesgaden AP Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Czech Republic A man with a snow cutter cleans a road during a heavy snowfall in Velka Upa, Giant Mountains AP Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Austria Cars drive on the motorway near Kufstein AFP/Getty Images Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Germany A snowplough train is seen during heavy snowfalls in Miesbach Reuters Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Germany A car covered with snow in the Bavarian village of Kaufbeuren AFP/Getty Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Germany A woman removes snow from a car in Berchtesgaden Reuters Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Germany A car of German Automobile Club ADAC is seen after heavy snowfalls near Irschenberg Reuters Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Germany A child climbing stairs next to a bicycle covered with snow in Ilmenau AFP/Getty Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Austria A sign is seen on a closed road after heavy snowfall near Obertauern Reuters Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Germany Cars jam on the motorway A8 between Salzburg and Munich after heavy snowfalls near Irschenberg Reuters Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Germany A man and a bus make their way on a street in Berchtesgaden AP Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Germany A truck sits on the Autobahn A8 after a crash near Bernau AP Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Germany A road in a forest is cleaned from snow in Schongau AP Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Germany A worker removes the snow next to a regional train at the train station in Berchtesgaden Reuters Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Greece Snow covers the statue of Alexander the Great at the seaside promenade of Thessaloniki Reuters Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Greece People take part in a snowball fight during snowfall, at the seaside promenade of Thessaloniki Reuters Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Germany Media people are covered with snow as they interview politicians during the winter meeting of the Christian Social Union in Seeon AP Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Austria Tourist cars queue on the main road out of a valley that was blocked after heavy snow falls in Vilzmoos AP Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Lithuania Wild ducks sit on the snow-covered banks of the Neris river in Vilnius AP Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Germany A snow-covered car is seen at a parking lot during heavy snowfall in Obertauern, Austria, 05 January 2019. Austria and southern Germany are expected to receive heavy snowfalls over the weekend. Weather forecasts warn that the snowstorm could cause roadblocks and increased avalanche danger in many parts of the affected region. EPA Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Germany German supporters wait ahead of the trainings and qualifiers of the fourth stage of the Four-Hills Ski Jumping tournament (Vierschanzentournee), in Bischofshofen, Austria on January 5, 2019. - The trainings and qualifiers have been cancelled dur to heavy snow falls. AFP/Getty Heavy snowfall blankets Europe – weather in pictures Switzerland Cars drive on a snow-covered road near the town of Taegerwilen Reuters

The teenager’s death brings the number of weather-related fatalities in Europe, reported over the last week, to 17.

Heavy snowfall continues to cause problems in Austria and southern Germany.

A seven-year-old child was killed in Aying, near Munich, by a falling tree, which police officers believe was weighed down with snow.

In Slovakia, authorities said a 37-year-old man was killed by an avalanche in the Mala Fatra mountains.

“In most skiing there is no reason for concern at present, if people keep to the rules and don’t leave the secured slopes,” said Elisabeth Koestinger, the minister responsible for tourism in Austria.

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But several railway lines into the Alps remain closed because of snow and the weather has forced schools in parts of Bavaria to close.

In the Czech Republic around 9,000 households were without electricity on Thursday after heavy snow in regions bordering Germany and Austria.

Austrian public broadcaster ORF reported that the weather was expected to calm on Friday but further heavy snow could be expected on Sunday.