A 27-year-old British man has died after being swept away by an avalanche at France’s Val Thorens ski resort. The incident occurred on Thursday morning when he was caught off guard by a massive wall of snow that carried him 15 meters down the mountain. He suffered cardiorespiratory failure and was taken to hospital in Grenoble, where he sadly passed away.
The French Alps were hit hard by unusually heavy storms, with parts of France, Switzerland, and Italy receiving record-breaking snowfall. The storms caused widespread disruption, including power outages that left thousands without electricity. At least four people have lost their lives due to the extreme weather, which has also forced several ski resorts to close.
Other countries in the region were not immune to the effects of the storm. In Italy, two men were found dead, and a 92-year-old man died in his flooded home. Switzerland’s Valais canton received exceptional snowfall, forcing 36,000 people to stay indoors. The situation has slowly returned to normal, but officials are warning skiers to exercise caution.
Weather forecasters recorded “exceptionally unusual” snowfall on Thursday, with some areas receiving over 3 feet of snow in a matter of hours. The storm is not surprising given the time of year, as snow is common in the Alps during April. However, the sheer amount of snow caught many off guard, leading to widespread disruptions and tragic consequences.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/18/briton-dies-in-avalanche-as-heavy-snow-sweeps-france-switzerland-and-italy