A British tourist has died in an off-piste skiing accident in the French Alps, according to reports.
The man, aged 50, is understood to have died after falling from height while descending a slope in the area of the popular resort of Meribel.
Local media reported the man was travelling “at very high speed” before falling from a height of several tens of metres on Sunday afternoon.
A spokesperson for local ski operator Meribel Alpina said: “Early afternoon this Sunday, February 12, a 50-year-old British citizen skiing off-piste in Meribel was found in cardiac arrest and polytraumatised following a violent fall.
“The ski patrol rescuers were very quickly on site and reinforced by a medical team who arrived by helicopter.”
A rescue helicopter is said to have been at the scene within around 15 minutes but the man was found dead outside the ski area.
“The whole resort would like to express their full support to his family in these very painful circumstances,” the Meribel Alpina spokesperson added.
“Shocked” eyewitnesses have reportedly been offered psychological support.
Police are understood to be investigating the incident, which is said to have happened in the Saulire section of the popular resort.
A spokesperson for the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who died in France and are in contact with the local authorities.”
The Alpine World Ski Championships are currently being held across Meribel and the nearby resort of Courchevel.
Formula One racing champion Michael Schumacher suffered a serious head injury while skiing off-piste at Meribel in 2014.
