Two British skiers killed after being crushed by avalanche in popular French resort

Among the dead are one French and two British skiers, the resort’s tourist office confirmed in a statement.

Cedric Bonnevie, who is in charge of the resort’s pistes, said an inquiry into the incident was underway.

The two British victims had been among a group of five, including a professional guide, low down the mountain face.

“All were equipped” with safety gear, according to the resort, but they were not fortunate enough to see the looming disaster.

The third victim, believed to be a French woman, was reportedly caught in the avalanche high up on the mountain slope.

Bachelet said: “Did she trigger the avalanche, was it other people, did it happen naturally, we can’t know”.

An investigation for manslaughter has been opened by the Albertville public prosecutor’s office.

Offering its “sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims”, the Val-d’Isère tourist office “recommends that skiers stay in the safe and marked areas of the ski area".

In a message published on X, authorities also strongly advised against “off-piste activities, ski touring and snowshoeing” and invited mountain enthusiasts to “strictly comply with the instructions given by professionals and the safety services of the slopes”.

It comes as several ski resorts have been forced to shut down as avalanche danger levels surge to the highest across vast stretches of the Alps.

The death toll across Europe’s ski season has already climbed above 60 and authorities fear that number could continue to rise.

A maximum 5/5 danger warning, reserved for the most extreme and deadly mountain conditions, has been declared at multiple holiday hotspots.

Families heading to one of France’s biggest ski resorts, La Plagne, have already had their half-term holidays cancelled amid the high risk.

A Level 5/5 danger is rarely issued,and signals what experts describe as an “exceptional” avalanche situation with “numerous very large and extremely large naturally triggered avalanches” expected.

Some could even thunder down into valleys, threatening roads and settlements, with forecasters warning slopes are now so unstable that even a single skier could trigger a slide.

Entire ski domains have already been forced to shut, with some of the most popular ski resorts including La Plagne and Les Arcs having taken the drastic step to close down entirely.

Peisey-Vallandry and La Grave have also followed through with the decision to lock the area off.

“All lifts, slopes, ski schools and mountain activities will be shut,” La Plagne said. “It’s a full closure for safety, for guests and for staff”.

Access roads remain open, but visitors are warned to expect delays and disruption.

Around 13 per cent of all clientele at La Plagne resort are British, making up the largest majority of their international clientele.

Large parts of Savoie, home to some of Europe’s biggest resort are now under Level five alerts, meaning extraordinarily dangerous avalanche conditions.

Neighbouring Les Arcs has also shut its ski area, while Val Thorens closed most slopes after being battered by the storm.

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