A British skier who was reported as missing by his concerned pal has been found safe and sound and suitably plastered in a bar.

The 51-year-old Brit, name and hometown not reported, was skiing with a friend at the popular Schmittenhoehe ski resort in Zell am See in the Austrian Alps.

According to the police in the Austrian province of Salzburg, the friends became separated after skiing down a slope and the Brit was soon reported as missing.

Alpine police forces launched a search operation for the British skier out of fears he may have suffered an accident off the marked pistes.

As the man was unreachable by phone, the search team scoured the area and later struck gold.

The missing Brit was found safe and sound in a local apres ski bar near the ski lift’s valley station.

Officials said the UK citizen was evidently drunk after apparently enjoying a riotous time in the bar as the concerned search team looked for him.

It is unclear how many frothy beers the man enjoyed during the search and whether he offered to buy a round for the rescuers upon their arrival.

The police did not report whether the Brit is likely to face a bill for the cost of the search operation.