Zermatt, Switzerland  - Swiss skier Didier Defago broke his right thumb in a training accident on Thursday and is expected to miss the start of the World Cup season.

It was the second injury setback this week for the Swiss ski team after Lara Gut dislocated her hip in a training accident on Tuesday.

Defago fell during a downhill training run at Zermatt. He was to undergo surgery later Thursday and is expected to miss the start of the season in just over three weeks in Soelden, Austria.

Zermatt  - A German skier died in an avalanche near the Swiss city of Zermatt Tuesday, according to local police.

According to the officials, the man was part of a trio. The group apparently started the avalanche themselves in the Tiefenbach area. They were traveling off marked paths, authorities said.

Two English skiers, who were at 2,200-metres elevation along a ski path, were also caught in the avalanche. One was lightly injured. (dpa)