Three ski deaths in France including an American and a British tourist

Three people, including an American and a British tourist, died in separate ski accidents in the Alps this weekend.

The American was the youngest, aged just 21.

All three were skiing away from resort ski slopes.

The 50-year-old Briton, who has not been named, was skiing at speed hors-piste close to the Saulire sector at Méribel and fell dozens of metres

Emergency services were immediately called but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Nearby patrollers who found the body and who had seen the fall were left in shock and are receiving psychological support, reports France Bleu.

An investigation into the precise cause of death has been opened and is expected to centre around the high speed of the skier immediately before the accident.

Two deaths at Chamonix

Reports to The Connexion from the Chamonix rescue service say that the American skier, who was also off-piste, fell around 200m down a corridor area at around 10:00 on Sunday morning.

He was skiing in the Brévent sector, underneath the Cornu chairlift. He was reported to have not been wearing a helmet.

Resort workers were unable to resuscitate the skier when they found him with the man suffering multiple injuries and under cardiac arrest. He was pronounced dead when the mountain rescue team arrived.

A 59-year old Frenchman Olivier Chamel, operations manager of the Aiguille du Midi sector in Chamonix, also died after losing his balance and falling down a corridor area while ski touring.

He had worked with the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc for 40 years, according to the Chamonix website.

Mountain rescue services were reported to have been called eight times in Chamonix over the course of Sunday February 12, leading gendarmes to renew calls for caution on the slopes.

Related articles:

French ski workers call ‘unlimited’ strike just before half-term break

Ski holidays in France: why British tourists shun the train