American skier dies in Peru

AMERICAN free skier Arne Backstrom, right, has died in a fall on a mountain in Peru.

Backstrom, 29, from California, the reigning Freeskiing World Tour champion, was thought to have been leading some skiers down a mountain on Thursday when he fell.

His father, Steve, said he was notified of his son's death by rescuers and later by the US Embassy officials.

He said he was "naturally sad," but added his son "had 29 pretty awesome years and a very quick ending".

Close friend Clem Smith said Backstrom had been in Peru to film a ski movie for a US production company. "It's a shame. We all thought he was immortal," Smith said.