Italy avalanche: Tributes to two Barclays lawyers among four skiers killed in the Alps

Tributes have been paid to two lawyers based at Barclays Bank in London were killed in an avalanche while skiing in the Italian Alps.

Matt Ziegler, 43, and Katherine Clarke, 39, were on a trip with colleagues when the accident happened in the resort of Courmayeur, near Mont Blanc, on Sunday afternoon.

The pair, who worked in Canary Wharf, were among four skiers swept 300 yards down an off-piste slope and buried under six feet of snow.

Father-of-two Mr Ziegler, who lived in Shoreditch with his wife Victoria, was described by friends as a “safe skier” who owned a house in the Swiss Alps.

Joyful: Matt Ziegler was a keen skier who died doing what he loved, friends said

One said: “He was joyful and a caring person. He loved skiing so much so he bought a house in Champéry a few years ago. He would come over once a month or so to ski, and loved the mountains. He was a safe skier and would stick to the routes. He died doing what he loved.

The bodies of four skiers killed by an avalanche in Italy's Alps were recovered on Monday.
EPA

“He came over to Champéry a couple of weeks ago to go skiing with friends. He then left and came back last week for a trip to Italy with his colleagues.”

Matt Ziegler’s family said in a statement: “Matt was very much loved by all of us, his friends and his colleagues. We want to say thank you to everyone who has sent their condolences and offered their help.

"This is obviously an extremely sad and difficult time for us, so we thank you for respecting our need for privacy so we can try and deal with our loss.”

Rescuers recovered the body of a British national, a woman from New Zealand based in London, a Pole and a man from France following an avalanche on Sunday.
EPA

Ms Clarke, originally from New Zealand, had been living in London since 2015.

A statement from her husband, Jim Clarke-Sullivan, read: “Words cannot describe the loss we feel after Sunday’s accident. Katherine was an amazing mother who loved our daughter, Isla, very deeply and was completely devoted to her.

"We enjoyed 14 years together and were looking forward to celebrating our ninth wedding anniversary on Wednesday. I have so many stories to tell Isla about her mum, who was always brave, always calm, bright and happy.

Katherine Clarke, originally from New Zealand, was described as an "amazing mother"

"Katherine had an adventurous spirit which found its home in the mountains. She was a very experienced backcountry skier and climber, tackling mountains all over the world, including becoming the first New Zealand woman to have climbed and skied the three highest peaks in Greenland.

"She was always meticulous and careful in everything she did, and though she was killed in a tragic accident, it was doing something that she loved. She also loved her career and was very close to her team, many of whom were friends and were with her in the Alps. She will be missed beyond words.”

A Barclays spokesman said: “It is with great sadness we learned of the tragedy in the Alps over the weekend.

“Our thoughts are with the families of all the victims, but especially those of our two colleagues, Matt and Katherine. We are supporting their families in every way we can, and we are supporting their friends and colleagues at Barclays, who are devastated by the loss.”

Frenchman Nicolas Bruno Vergez, 36, and Polish citizen Wespazjan Wisla, 38, were also killed.

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