Swiss mountain guide dies while leading an avalanche course at Pointe de Masserey Jan. 7 (UPI) -- A mountain guide who was leading an avalanche course on Pointe de Masserey in the Mase-Val d'Hérens region of the Swiss Alps over the weekend died during a snow slide that also claimed the lives of two other people. Even though Samuel Matthey-Doret, 28, was regarded as a competent, cautious, professional climber, that wasn't enough to prevent an avalanche from sweeping him and three others down the mountain. The one victim who wasn't killed in the avalanche is hospitalized in critical condition. Despite the fact that at least 11 people have been killed in avalanches in the Swiss Alps during the past two weeks, one of Matthey-Doret's colleagues defended his decision to hold the avalanche course over the weekend -- which included equipment training, route planning and learning to recognize dangerous conditions -- and called the event a "natural disaster." "I knew him for nearly eight years and we have often worked together," said Cyrille Berthod. He always acted prudently. According to Pierre Mathey, the head of the Swiss association of mountain guides, nearly half of avalanche courses are taught in areas that have a level three risk of avalanches. It could have happened to any one of us. Berthod said. The Local