A 24 year-old Dutchman has died in an avalanche on Thursday in Schönau am Königssee in southern Germany, Bavarian police have said.

The man was on a hike with relatives when the avalanche happened. He was bringing up the rear and was swept away, falling some 60 to 80 metres and hitting his head on the rocks. The rest of the family was unhurt.

His family clambered down to reach him but could do nothing for him, police said. Because of a lack of phone coverage in the area, they could only call for help two hours after the accident happened.

The family had made inquiries about the safety of the walk and has seen no indication that it could be dangerous, German media said. However, rising temperatures during the afternoon meant the 20 cm layer of snow started to slide down the steep grassy slope, turning into the compact mass that swept the man away.