A British skier has been killed in a “very large” avalanche in the French Alps.
The unnamed 55-year-old man died after being swept away in an off-piste section of the Chamonix valley, at the base of Mont Blanc, on Tuesday afternoon.
The victim’s body was discovered by members of ski patrol in the area of Les Grands Montets at around 4.35pm, which is known for its challenging runs.
According to local reports, the patrol was preparing to close the slopes for the day when they noticed an avalanche stretching around two-thirds of a mile down the slope.
They then realised that a person had been buried underneath, as the victim’s elbow was sticking out of the snow.
Medics were flown to the scene, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials also searched for other possible victims in the area.
Haute-Savoie prefecture said in a statement: "A very large avalanche occurred in the Grands Montets ski area, in the Herse sector.
“Due to very unfavourable weather conditions and the significant risk of a second avalanche, the rescue operation was halted late in the evening. The checks carried out confirm a provisional assessment of one victim."
French mountain police said the victim was a “55-year-old man of English origin.”
“The reasons for the triggering of this kilometre-long and 400-metre-wide flow are currently unknown and an investigation is underway,” officials said.
According to French media, the man had been skiing his 11th descent from the Herse chairlift, amid challenging conditions.
Strong winds in the afternoon had forced the closure of the mountain's highest lift, the Bochard gondola.
Skiers had been warned to take extra caution due to the tricky conditions.
It comes after a British woman died in a “violent” collision on another ski slope in the French Alps earlier this month.
The 65-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene after she reportedly lost control while skiing and crashed into another skier at the Les Arcs resort in France.
She is said to have crashed into a 35-year-old fellow Briton while on a black slope - the most challenging for skiers - in the Aiguille Rouge run, French media reported.
