Third British Skier Killed in French Alps Avalanche Tragedy
A British man has become the third UK national to die in a series of devastating avalanches that have swept through the French Alps, claiming at least six lives within days. The latest fatality occurred on Tuesday morning near the resort town of La Grave, where the skier was caught in a massive slide while skiing with a group of four others.
Multiple Avalanche Incidents Across the Alps
According to local media reports, mountain rescuers rushed to the scene in La Grave but were unable to save the British man and a Polish citizen, both said to be in their 30s. This tragedy follows closely on the heels of another deadly avalanche at the Val d'Isere ski resort on Friday morning, where two British men were among three people killed.
The Val d'Isere incident involved a group of five off-piste skiers accompanied by an instructor. While the instructor emerged unharmed and tested negative for drugs and alcohol, the two British skiers and a French national skiing separately lost their lives in the avalanche.
Unprecedented Weather Conditions and Warnings
The deadly avalanches have struck as France grapples with extreme weather conditions, including heavy snowfall in the Alps and flooding in several western regions following days of intense rainfall. Meteorological authorities had issued a rare red avalanche warning across the Savoie region just days before the tragedies.
Le Monde reported that this marked only the third time in 25 years that such a severe warning had been issued. The Val d'Isere ski resort's website had explicitly stated that off-piste skiing was "strongly discouraged" due to the "very high avalanche risk."
Rescue Operations and Further Danger
Following the La Grave incident, a second massive avalanche approximately 300 meters wide swept across a road and footpath in the town of Valloire in southeast France. The prefecture of Savoie deployed extensive rescue teams including mountain police officers, firefighters, dog units, and army specialists.
Rescue operations continued for more than four hours before being halted in the late afternoon due to the continued risk of further avalanches. One person died in this secondary incident, while two of the three wounded were in serious condition and required helicopter evacuation to nearby hospitals.
Official Investigations and Responses
Local authorities have launched investigations into both avalanche incidents, with Albertville public prosecutor Benoit Bachelet confirming that a manslaughter investigation has been opened regarding the Val d'Isere tragedy. Authorities are working to determine the exact causes of death in both cases.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has been actively involved, with a spokesperson stating: "We are supporting the family of a British man who died in France and are in contact with the local authorities." This follows similar statements issued after the Val d'Isere incident, where the FCDO confirmed they were aware of the accident involving two British men and were offering consular assistance.
Continued Risk and Weather Forecast
Meteo-France, the national weather service, issued further avalanche warnings for the Northern Alps and Hautes-Alpes region on Tuesday, which includes La Grave. The service warned that avalanche risk remains high on Wednesday as forecast sunshine leads to thawing ice, creating potentially dangerous conditions for skiers and mountain enthusiasts.
The series of tragedies has highlighted the extreme dangers present in the French Alps during periods of heavy snowfall and unstable weather conditions, with authorities urging extreme caution for anyone venturing into mountainous areas.
