An off piste skier has been killed by an avalanche this morning in the ski domain of d’Arêches in the Beaufort range. Part of a group of five skiers the slide occured at around 10h30 in the Grand-Mont sector at 1500 meters altitude.
The group had engaged in the narrow Chornay couloir under the Bonnets Rouge chair. Four of the group had remained on the flanks of the couloir skiing in a wooded sector. The victim had decided to ski the more open fall line of the couloir when he triggered a small slide. None of the group was equipped with avalanche beacons. The 26 year old victim was partially visible on the surface and his friends were able to recover him in a state of cardio-vascular arrest. The rescue helicopter was unable to come to the scene due to poor weather. Alerted by the group the rescue services were unable to resuscitate him. The 26 year old victim was local to the area. This is the second death due to an avalanche in France this season. Meteo France have warned that the conditions are unstable in the Alps at the moment.