In a tragic incident in Val d’Isère, south-east France, two British skiers, Stuart Leslie, 46, and Shaun Overy, 51, lost their lives following an avalanche that struck while they were skiing off-piste. The avalanche, which was triggered amidst a red alert notice for hazardous conditions, swept the two men along with a French national into a stream, where their bodies were later retrieved by emergency services. Local reports detail that the group of five had disregarded warnings on avalanche conditions, leading to the fatal event.

The skiing party was being led by an instructor when the avalanche occurred. Another member of their group reportedly managed to survive by managing to dig himself out of the snow, highlighting the dangers of skiing in off-piste areas under severe weather warnings. The pistes director at Val d’Isère, Cédric Bonnevie, emphasized the seriousness of the incident and the conditions that led to the avalanche, calling it a stark reminder of the risks associated with skiing in avalanche-prone areas.

This incident underscores the need for skiers to adhere to safety guidelines and avalanche alerts, particularly when choosing to ski in off-piste areas where conditions can change rapidly. The loss of Leslie and Overy has sent shockwaves through the skiing community in the UK, and it raises questions about the importance of risk management in winter sports.