Britons Among Three Killed as Avalanche Strikes French Alps

A powerful avalanche in the French Alps has claimed the lives of three skiers — two British nationals and one French citizen — after a massive snowslide tore through an off‑piste area near the Val d’Isère resort late Friday morning.

A Sudden and Deadly Snowslide

The avalanche struck at approximately 11:30 a.m. local time, sweeping away multiple skiers across different elevations of the Manchet valley. According to local officials, the French victim had been skiing alone high on the mountain slope, while the two Britons were part of a group of five accompanied by a professional instructor further down the face. None of them saw the avalanche approaching.

Emergency teams responded swiftly, but the force and speed of the snowslide left little chance of survival for the three victims. A third British skier sustained minor injuries.

Extreme Avalanche Conditions

The tragedy unfolded just a day after France’s national weather agency, Meteo‑France, issued a rare red avalanche alert across the Savoie region — a warning level used only twice in the past 25 years. Storm Nils had dumped between 60 and 100 centimetres of fresh snow, creating what experts described as “exceptional” and “very unstable” snowpack conditions.

Even after the red alert was lifted on Friday, the avalanche risk remained high across the Alps, with slopes above 1,800 metres particularly vulnerable. Officials warned that avalanches could be easily triggered by a single skier, and urged visitors to remain strictly within marked trails.

Off‑Piste Warnings Ignored Amid High Risk

Val d’Isère’s resort management had strongly discouraged off‑piste skiing due to the “very high avalanche risk,” a warning prominently displayed on its website. Despite this, several groups ventured beyond marked areas, including the British party caught in Friday’s deadly slide.

Witnesses in the valley reported seeing skiers free‑riding shortly before the avalanche broke loose. One couple, out for a walk after finding the main slopes too crowded, captured video of the moment the snow mass thundered down the mountainside.

Investigation Underway

A manslaughter investigation has been opened by the Albertville prosecutor’s office, with CRS Alpes mountain rescue police leading the inquiry. Early reports indicate that all victims were equipped with avalanche transceivers, though the precise trigger of the snowslide remains unknown.

The ski instructor accompanying the British group tested negative for alcohol and drugs, authorities confirmed.

Official Response and Support

The UK Foreign Office acknowledged the deaths of the two British men and stated it is in contact with French authorities, ready to provide consular assistance to the families.

Local officials and the Val d’Isère tourism office extended condolences to the victims’ families, reiterating warnings for skiers to remain within designated safe zones as the Alps continue to face one of the most hazardous avalanche seasons in recent years.