Soldiers on war games in the Austrian alps have been seriously injured after they were flattened by an avalanche as they dug snow caves.

At least three German troopers were rushed to hospital when the exercise at a ski centre went disastrously wrong.

Local media reports that 19 soldiers had been digging out snow caves on 10th January on the Stubaier Wildspitze peak when they were hit by the avalanche

At least three of the soldiers were severely injured after a 30-metre-wide (98 feet) and 10-metre-long (32 feet) slab of snow broke away at a height of 3,150 metres (10,334 feet).

Police Force Commander of the Neustift Thomas Zingerle said that two of the men were completely engulfed by the snow, while three others were partially buried.

They were immediately dug out by their comrades before three of them were flown to nearby hospitals with by an emergency helicopter.

Tyrol Police said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “Three people aged 21 and 26 suffered injuries of an undetermined degree and were taken to the Innsbruck University Hospital and Hall in Tirol State Hospital by the NAH (Austrian Air Rescue) and RTW (Emergency Rescue) for further treatment.

“Upon completion of the examinations, a report will be submitted to the relevant authorities.”

The Avalanche Forecast service warned ski enthusiasts over an increased danger of avalanches in certain parts of Tyrol on Tuesday.