Val Thorens: 27-Year-Old Briton Dies After Being Swept Away by Avalanche in Savoie

Tragedy Strikes Amid Rare Snowfall in the French Alps

A 27-year-old British man has died following an avalanche near the entrance of Val Thorens ski resort in Savoie, southeastern France. The victim, who was found in cardiac arrest after being buried under snow on Thursday morning, succumbed to his injuries at Grenoble University Hospital later that day.

The avalanche occurred shortly after 10 a.m. as the man stood at the roadside and was swept about fifteen meters downhill by the force of the snow. This incident was one of four avalanches triggered that day in the region, following unusually heavy snowfall in Val Thorens and nearby Les Menuires. According to Météo-France, this level of snow activity had not been seen in two decades.

Quick Response, But a Fatal Outcome

Emergency services were alerted by a witness, prompting a swift response from two municipal police officers and a patrol of three gendarmes on foot. The man was quickly extracted from the snow and received emergency treatment from firefighters and a medical team from the emergency services. Despite being rushed to the hospital in critical condition, the young man’s death was confirmed later that evening.

Authorities Urge Caution as Avalanche Risk Remains High

In light of the fatal incident, local authorities have renewed calls for caution. Météo-France has maintained an orange avalanche warning for several areas in Savoie, including Haute-Maurienne, Haute-Tarentaise, and the Vanoise massif.

The prefect of Savoie urged skiers to remain strictly within marked ski areas, emphasizing that off-piste skiing is strongly discouraged, even with the return of clear skies.

“Off-piste skiing is highly inadvisable at the moment—even in spots that are usually safe,” he warned. “We call for the utmost caution.”