A British man was one of six skiers killed in a series of devastating avalanches across the French Alps over the weekend, according to local authorities. The tragic incidents occurred during a period of heightened avalanche risk, with warnings issued by forecasters.
Three Fatal Incidents on Sunday
Resort officials confirmed three separate avalanches claimed lives on Sunday alone. In the La Plagne ski resort in southeastern France, a British skier, aged around 50, was buried while skiing off-piste. More than 50 rescuers were deployed in a major operation, locating the man under 2.5 metres (eight feet) of snow after nearly an hour. Despite their efforts, he could not be resuscitated.
In a separate incident, rescue teams recovered the body of another skier buried by an avalanche in the prestigious Courchevel resort. Further details on this victim were not immediately released.
Meanwhile, in the Haute-Savoie region, local gendarmerie reported a third fatal avalanche at Vallorcine. A 32-year-old off-piste skier died after being caught in the slide.
Previous Day's Fatalities Bring Toll to Six
These Sunday tragedies followed a deadly day on Saturday, where two separate avalanches claimed the lives of three off-piste skiers. The consecutive days of fatal incidents brought the weekend's death toll to six.
French weather services had explicitly warned of a high avalanche risk across the region for the weekend. Officials in the Savoie region recorded at least six avalanches in the department's ski areas on Sunday morning alone, underscoring the dangerous conditions.
A Stark Reminder of Alpine Dangers
This cluster of fatalities serves as a grim reminder of the inherent risks of off-piste skiing, especially during periods of unstable snowpack. The deployment of large-scale rescue operations highlights the extreme challenges faced by emergency services in such terrain and conditions. Skiers are urged to heed all official warnings, carry appropriate safety equipment, and consider hiring experienced local guides when venturing away from marked slopes.
