Pictured: American boy, 15, who died in avalanche in Switzerland identified as Illinois teenager Aleksas Beiga, the son of an Olympian

The American teenager killed in a Swiss avalanche has been pictured for the first time and identified as Aleksas Beiga from Illinois, son of an Olympic swimmer. 

Aleksas, 15, was one of the three people killed in the colossal snow collapse close to a popular ski resort in Zermatt on Easter Monday.  

A fourth person was also found with injuries and flown to a nearby hospital after a dramatic hunt around the area of Riffelberg involving four helicopters.

Friends have described Aleksas as a 'beacon of kindness and intelligence' who loved outdoor sports including 'carving up the slopes on his skis' in a fundraiser launched for his family.   

'Words cannot capture the depth of sorrow we feel, nor adequately express the profound loss of a young soul so full of promise, joy, and vitality,' the fundraiser reads. 

Aleksas' father, Ned Beiga, 52, is a Lithuanian former professional swimmer who competed in the breaststroke event at the 1992 Summer Olympics.

Beiga now runs a Chicago-based company which restores homes after they have been damaged by emergency incidents like fire or flooding. 

Friends remembered Aleksas for his 'infectious laughter, boundless energy and compassionate heart' which 'touched the lives of all who knew him' and 'brightened every room he entered'. 

'His vivacity knew no bounds, and his zest for life was unparalleled,' they wrote. 

'Whether he was diving into the swimming pool, racing down the trails on his bike, or carving up the slopes on his skis, Aleksas approached every moment with enthusiasm and passion.'   

'Beyond his adventurous spirit, Aleksas was a beacon of kindness and intelligence,' they added. 

'His warmth and empathy knew no bounds, and he had a remarkable ability to uplift those around him with his words and actions. 

'Whether it was through a witty joke that brought laughter to a somber moment or a thoughtful gesture that offered comfort to a friend in need, Aleksas had a profound impact on all who crossed his path.'

The fundraiser said the 'sudden' death of the teenager had left an 'irreparable void in the hearts of his family and friends'. 

It adds that the GoFundMe was launched to help with the expense of bringing Aleksas' body home. 

In the aftermath of the avalanche, 45 rescuers scrambled to find the missing skiiers. 

They were aided by eight avalanche dog handlers, 13 rescue specialists, 15 firefighters and local ski instructors.

'The deceased are a 15-year-old American as well as a man and a woman whose identification has not yet been completed,' according to a statement from local authorities.

The injured person was a 20-year-old Swiss man, they added. 

Authorities are warning of the risk of more disasters amid heavy snowfall and 'hurricane force' winds in the region.

The skiers were reportedly in an area prone to deep snow outside of the marked ski slopes around 2pm when the avalanche struck.

'It looked to me as if there were several people on the slope at the time of the avalanche,' a horrified witness told local outlet Blick.

Bruno Jelk, former head of the Zermatt mountain rescue service and current head of Mattertal avalanche monitoring, said several had come off piste on a 'very steep slope' where tracks could still be seen.

'The search wasn't that easy at the beginning,' said Anjan Truffer, head of rescue at Air Zermatt. 

Two of the victims were found with avalanche search devices on their person, authorities said. 

Police said the other two victims were a man and a women, whose 'identifications are still in progress'. 

Truffer added: 'At the moment, thank God, we have no further signs of people who could be buried.' 

The ski area was some 8200ft (2500m) above sea level and experiences intermittent avalanche warnings.

A lot of snow had fallen over the Easter weekend as the mountains were buffeted by strong 'hurricane force' winds, local media reported.

'Very large, and in some cases extremely large, spontaneous avalanches are to be expected,' the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research said. 

'The slopes are 100 per cent secured. There is no safety risk for people who only spend time on the slopes,' Truffer added.