text: Tragedy: Carwyn Scott-Howell fell to his death while on  holiday with his mother Ceri Scott-Howell, nine-year-old sister Antonia and brother Gerwyn, 19, in the Alps . The family of a seven-year-old skier killed in the French Alps have paid tribute to their 'daring, outgoing, determined little boy' and revealed he got lost in woods before sliding towards a 164ft cliff. It is thought Carwyn Scott-Howell may have entered the dense woodland because he thought it was a shortcut to his hotel in the ski resort of Flaine. He was on holiday with his mother Ceri Scott-Howell, nine-year-old sister Antonia and brother Gerwyn, 19. Carwyn's parents, ex-nurse Mrs Scott-Howell and husband Rhys, a former butcher, rent out self-catering cottages and run a farm. They bought the farm to live out their dream of growing their own food and living 'the good life'. Carwyn would help feed cows and pigs on the farm which has won prizes for its speciality sausages and has sold scotch eggs to Prime Minister David Cameron. His family last night said his death had left them feeling 'utter devastation' with a 'vast void in our hearts', adding that he was 'a very competent skier' who had started aged three. A statement released through the Foreign Office  said: 'He was a very daring outgoing determined little boy whose handsome smile lit up any room and made life full of laughter with never a dull moment. Seven years is too short a time to be an angel in the sky'. Last night, the family, from Talybont-on-Usk, near Brecon, Wales, remained in the Alpine resort of Flaine – a 38-mile drive from Chamonix – in free accommodation provided by the hotel. They are expected to leave today. Police sources said the boy's body may be expatriated today after final post-mortem examinations yesterday. The family were enjoying the last run of their trip in perfect conditions in the town of Flaine when Antonia fell over and her mother stopped to help her. Within moments Carwyn, who friends say modelled himself on survival specialist and TV presenter Bear Grylls, is believed to have taken the chance to go skiing in nearby woodland. Trbute: Carwyn Scott-Howell's family called the 'caring' boy 'daring and determined' after he was killed after falling from a cliff while on an Easter skiing trip to the French resort of Flaine . He skied 100 yards off-piste, where trees were just a yard apart. Unable to weave through, he took his skis off and is thought to have started sliding on his bottom or running. Last night, there were reports Carwyn could have been trying to get to his hotel, Les Terrasses d'Eos, which can be seen from the ski slope. He continued 400 yards, until he plunged off the side of the mountain and fell 164ft. It is believed he landed on a rocky ledge. In a statement released to the Foreign Office, his family described Carwyn as a 'daring, outgoing, determined little boy' and a 'very competent skier and snowboarder'. They said they were enjoying their last ski run together when Carwyn's sister 'lost her ski on a jump and at this point Carwyn skied ahead'. 'He was a very daring outgoing determined little boy whose handsome smile lit up any room and made life full of laughter with never a dull moment. Seven years is too short a time to be an angel in the sky. 'Carwyn was a very competent skier and snowboarder who had started skiing at the age of three and spent several weeks each year skiing. We had spent the most happy ski holiday together in the French ski resort of Flaine.' The statement went on to explain how the family became separated on their last run of the day on Friday afternoon. 'The family were all enjoying their last ski run over the small jumps and bumps at the side of the slope together, when Carwyn's sister lost her ski on a jump and at this point Carwyn skied ahead,' it said. 'The family cannot explain their feeling of utter devastation with a vast void in their hearts. The family would like to thank all their friends and family for their support at this time and the vast help from the British Consulate. 'The family now ask for time to grieve in private.' Scene: Carwyn's family are believed to be staying in this hotel, close to the slopes where the seven-year-old died . Family: The youngster lived on a farm near Brecon, which is well known for its produce. Here Prime Minister David Cameron buys scotch eggs from Carwyn's father Rhys at the Royal Welsh Show last year . After a search spanning two hours, a rescue helicopter spotted Carwyn's body. As the vehicle was unable to land, crews were winched down to reach the boy, who was declared dead at the scene after 7pm. Michel Ollagnon, police commander from nearby Bonneville, said Carwyn was found wearing his glasses, dispelling reports he went into the woods because he did not have them on. Despite initial reports that Carwyn's mother had let him try the last run of the day alone, Mr Ollagnon said: 'In fact…he went up with his mother, sister and brother. 'The sister fell, the mother stopped and the little boy went off…Why he went in that direction, we do not know … One thing is sure, the skis were found quite a way from the cliffside.' Pierre-Yves Michau, the judge heading the investigation into Carwyn's death, said the inquiry was still trying to verify all the circumstances surrounding the incident. He said: 'The mother last saw her son at about 4pm. She returned to where they were staying because she thought he had returned on his own to the resort. But he wasn't there so she returned to the mountain. Accident: The Welsh schoolboy is believed to have got lost in the woods pictured here, before falling to his death from the cliffs below . Carwyn, who friends say modelled himself on survival specialist and TV presenter Bear Grylls, is believed to have taken the chance to go skiing in woodland to get back to Flaine, pictured . 'She asked everyone if they had seen him. It was about 6pm when she spoke to the pisteurs because she thought he had returned on his own.' He added: 'He had left the piste and then was in the forest and he took his skis off because perhaps the snow was not very good. 'He descended. He continued on foot. Between the piste and where he fell it would have been about 15 minutes. 'There are footprints in the snow after the point where the skis had been left for several tens of metres.' Family friends in Brecon yesterday paid tribute to the boy. One said: 'Carwyn loved exploring. That's what he spent all his time doing. 'He was a little adventurer. He was quite fearless really. He'd always be out in nature.' Another friend added: 'He idolised Bear Grylls and loved spending his time in the woods … He'd grown up in the mountains and [was] used to those kind of conditions, which makes this awful accident all the more tragic.' Holiday: Carwyn's family has said 'the most happy ski holiday' in Flaine, France, turned to tragedy after Carwyn became detached from the group on the last run of the day . A worker at Flaine hire shop Ski Set, who gave her name as Charlotte, said: 'The slope is about 40 metres [131ft] wide. 'You would have to really try to come off the piste … The trees are about 1.5 to two metres [6ft 6in] high. He must have had to push through … It seems he could see the hotel from where he was standing and tried to get there on foot.' The family were well known at food fairs and farmers markets and Carwyn would often help out on their stall. The Prime Minister briefly met Carwyn's father Rhys at the Royal Welsh Show last year when he bought Scotch eggs. A spokesman Mr Cameron said: 'This was an incredibly tragic accident and the Prime Minister's thoughts are with Carwyn's family.' Local farmer Peter Davies said: 'They were a great family not to mention great farmers who made really good sausages. It's just so sad to think what they must be going through right now. The whole farming fraternity is praying for them.' Children and teachers at the school Carwyn attended faced a difficult first day back after the Easter break. Officials at Ysgol Y Bannau in Brecon said a tribute was paid to Carwyn at a special assembly. Headteacher Emyr Jones said; 'The school mourns the loss of one of its pupils, Carwyn Scott-Howell - a lively and likeable pupil who will be greatly missed. 'We at Ysgol y Bannau, as an extended community, the staff, pupils, parents and governors, extend our deepest sympathy to the family; our thoughts and prayers are with them.' A book of condolence has also been opened at Brecon Cathedral, where a picture of of Carwyn in a karate suit was placed next to candles lit in his memory.
target: Carwyn Scott-Howell, 7, died on a family holiday in Flaine in French Alps .
  He had skied into dense woodland before sliding towards a 164 foot cliff .
  Carwyn went ahead alone when sister fell and his mother stopped to help .
  Thought he may have entered woodland as thought it was shortcut to hotel .
  Family described him as a 'very daring, outgoing, determined little boy'