The family of a mother and son killed in the French Alps have released a devastating statement.
The statement stressed the family are “beyond heartbroken” at the loss.
Kate and Archie Vokes, 54 and 22, were experienced skiers but tragically died after an avalanche hit the Saint-Gervais-les-Bains resort on December 28.
In a statement, their family said: “We are beyond heartbroken at the loss of our beloved, wonderful Kate and Archie.
A gendarme of the French "Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne"
GETTY
“Words cannot express how terrible we all feel nor the hole in our lives that has been left by this tragic accident.
"We kindly ask for privacy as we grieve together as a family.”
Vokes, who was based in Manchester, was chairwoman of the Oglesby Charitable Trust.
She was also director of their family-owned property company Bruntwood, deputy chair of the Royal Exchange Theatre and a trustee of charities Shared Health and Focused Care.
The 54-year-old worked as a personal trainer in Manchester and was a qualified ski instructor, receiving a Level 1 qualification in Canada in 2022.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
A stock image of somebody skiing
GETTY
Five other people survived the 400-metre-long avalanche.
The family’s private ski instructor sustained minor injuries.
Guy Le Nevé, second-in-command of the Chamonix mountain search team, told MailOnline: “Initially it was reported that the instructor had a locator beacon but that is incorrect, neither he nor the family involved were wearing one.
“Two other people were also caught up in the avalanche further up and it was one of them who was wearing the locator. That’s how we found them first.”
He added: “This is an area reserved for very good skiers. This is a group who had known the instructor very well for many years and who regularly came to ski in the area. "
A stock image of somebody skiing
GETTY
“We believe the avalanche was caused by two cross country skiers above the group.
“An avalanche expert has visited the scene and will provide a report for the prosecutor but it will take a few weeks.
“We are looking for witnesses and will try and identify the cross country skiers but it will be up to the prosecutor to bring any charges.”
French police have reportedly opened a manslaughter investigation after suspicions that the avalanche was caused by two other skiers in the off-piste slopes.
A spokesperson from the Foreign Office said: “We are supporting the family of two British people who died in France and are in contact with the local authorities.”
