By Blessing Nweke
A British man has died after being caught in an avalanche while skiing in the French Alps, authorities at the La Plagne resort have confirmed. The man, believed to be in his 50s, was part of a group skiing off-site when the incident occurred on Sunday afternoon.
In a statement, La Plagne said emergency services were alerted to the avalanche at 13:57 local time (12:57 GMT) and immediately dispatched a large-scale rescue operation to the area. More than 50 people took part in the search, including medics, ski instructors, mountain rescue specialists and a specially trained dog deployed by helicopter.
After an intensive search lasting around 50 minutes, rescuers located the man buried beneath approximately 2.5 metres (8 feet) of snow. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Resort officials said the skier had been skiing without an avalanche transceiver, a critical safety device used to locate people buried under snow, and was not accompanied by a professional instructor. Off-site skiing, also known as backcountry skiing, involves traveling outside marked and controlled ski runs and carries significantly higher risks, particularly during peak avalanche season.
La Plagne’s official website advises visitors planning to ski off- piste to carefully consult the daily Avalanche Risk Bulletin and to carry essential safety equipment, including an avalanche victim detector, probe and shovel. The resort also recommends hiring qualified guides who are familiar with local terrain and conditions.
December through February is considered the peak season for avalanches in the northern hemisphere, as heavy snowfall combined with fluctuating temperatures can destabilize snowpacks.
The incident comes just weeks after a deadly avalanche in Italy’s Dolomite mountains claimed the lives of five German climbers, including a 17- year- old girl and her father. La Plagne said its thoughts are with the British man’s family during this difficult time.
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