Three British Skiers Die in Separate Avalanches in French Alps

In Brief

Three British men died in avalanches in the French Alps within days of each other.

Key Facts

• Two British skiers, Stuart Leslie (46) and Shaun Overy (51), died in an avalanche in Val d’Isère on Friday while skiing off-piste with a group and instructor
• A French skier skiing alone was also killed in the Val d’Isère avalanche
• A manslaughter investigation is being conducted by mountain rescue police regarding the Val d’Isère incident
• A third British man died in a separate avalanche near La Grave on the following Tuesday while skiing with four others
• The second avalanche near La Grave also killed a Polish citizen

What Happened

On Friday, two British skiers and a French skier were killed by an avalanche in Val d’Isère while skiing off-piste. A manslaughter investigation was launched by local authorities. Four days later, a third British man and a Polish citizen died in a separate avalanche near La Grave while skiing with a group.

Why It Matters

These incidents highlight the risks of off-piste skiing in the French Alps, especially during periods of high avalanche danger. The fatalities have prompted investigations and may influence safety protocols and warnings for skiers in the region. The events underscore the importance of avalanche awareness and preparedness.