Wed Feb 27, 9:48 AM ET

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Henrik Oscarsson, a pioneer of Swedish freestyle skiing, has died after being caught in an avalanche in Switzerland. He was 41.

Oscarsson died Monday at a hospital in the Swiss town of Sion, Sweden freestyle team manager Peter Lundberg said Wednesday.

Oscarsson and two other skiers were caught in the avalanche on Sunday above the resort of Bruson in the southern state of Valais. Police said the three caused the snow slide while skiing off the trail near Tete de la Payanne, at an altitude of 7,414 feet.

The two other skiers, one Swede and a Swiss, were able to dig themselves out of the snow, police said. They located Oscarsson, who was severely injured.

Oscarsson, who won a free style World Cup event in mogul in 1986, helped start freestyle skiing as a sport in Sweden.

He is survived by his U.S.-born wife, Mary-Jo Tiampo, and three sons.

source: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020227/ap_on_sp_ot/ski_obit_oscarsson_1