Avalanche in French Alps kills Brazilian-Portuguese skier
2025-01-29
Category: news

A man died in a "very large" avalanche in the French Alps on Tuesday, local officials have confirmed.The body of the dual Brazilian-Portuguese national was found in the resort of Les Grands Montets at the foot of Mont Blanc, rescuers said.The avalanche, which occurred around 16:35 local time (15:35 GMT), was 1km (0.6 miles) in length and 400m wide.It was first reported that the victim was British, but the public prosecutor and the Chamonix High Mountain Gendarmerie Platoon (PGHM) told the BBC on Wednesday that this had been incorrect.
The avalanche fell in an off-piste part of Les Grands Montets where the 55-year old man had been skiing.It was spotted by a ski patrol on its way to close the area to the public, due to very poor conditions.Rescue teams attended the scene, where the skier was pronounced dead.PGHM told the BBC that the man's family had been informed. It added that it had not received reports of any further casualties.The Haute-Savoie prefecture reminded skiers and hikers to exercise caution and follow guidance amid January's high avalanche risk.