The dramatic moment a drone nearly smashed into champion Austrian skier Marcel Hirscher has been captured on video.
The near miss happened during the World Cup slalom event in at Madonna di Campiglio, Italy and Hirscher, cool as a cucumber, took to Instagram to call himself "lucky" describing it as "heavy air traffic".
The drone was carrying a video camera and footage from it has yet to be released, nor has an explanation as to why it hurtled to the ground.
Race director Markus Waldner from the ruling body FIS reportedly said: “We narrowly avoided a catastrophe. We checked that the drone can only fly in a corridor next to the slope. But it flew more and more into the slope.”
Drone owners Infront Sports and Media released a statement saying an investigation had begun.
"We are extremely relieved that apparently none was hurt. At the same time, this incident is being taken very serious and the circumstances leading to it are currently being examined," the statement said.
"An update will be provided as soon as secured information is available."