A British man has tragically died while skiing in the Italian Alps after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest on the slopes.
Emergency Response on the Mountain
The 49-year-old was descending a run at the Claviere ski resort in the Italian Alps on January 4 when he was taken seriously ill. He suddenly went into cardiac arrest, prompting an immediate emergency response.
Local emergency services rushed to the scene and began attempts to resuscitate the man. A specialised medical team from the regional air rescue service was also dispatched to the mountain in a bid to save his life.
Despite the concerted efforts of all responders, the man could not be revived. He was pronounced dead on the slopes. His body was later transferred to a hospital in the nearby town of Susa.
A Second Alpine Tragedy Involving a British Skier
This incident marks the second fatal accident involving a British skier in the Alpine region in recent weeks. Last month, a 24-year-old British man died in the French Alps after a devastating fall.
That skier, who has not been named, was part of a group that ventured off-piste in the Les Arcs 2000 area of the Savoie resort. Reports indicate two members of the group attempted to ski down a notoriously steep slope.
Tragically, one lost his footing and careered uncontrollably for an estimated 900 feet before crashing over a rocky ridge. Other skiers raised the alarm, and two patrollers found him unconscious and in cardiac arrest.
An air ambulance was scrambled from Courchevel, reaching the victim around half an hour after the initial alert. A doctor and two police rescue workers tried to revive him, but he was declared dead at the scene. The resort expressed its "most sincere thoughts to the family and the friends of the victim".
The second skier involved was found trapped at the top of the slope and was later rescued by a police helicopter.
Warnings Over Off-Piste Conditions
According to reports, the slope where the French Alps incident occurred was wide at the top but narrowed significantly towards the bottom, ending at the rocky ridge. It was covered with a thin layer of hard snow, a condition known to increase the risk of accidents.
In light of these tragedies, resort managers have issued urgent advice to skiers. They strongly urge winter sports enthusiasts to avoid steep off-piste terrain when snow conditions are hard and compacted, as this significantly reduces control and increases danger.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has been approached for comment regarding both incidents.
