British snowboarder, 50, dies after falling 100ft off a cliff in French resort of Avoriaz
- The man, 50, was on holiday with his family in Avoriaz in the French Alps
- He died while snowboarding off-piste in Pointe de la Chaux Fleurie, Montriond
- A mountain rescue team was called but he is believed to have died at the scene
A British snowboarder has died after falling 100ft to his death in the French Alps.
The 50-year-old man, whose name has not been released, was on holiday with his family in Avoriaz but died while snowboarding off-piste in Pointe de la Chaux Fleurie, Montriond, reports suggest.
A mountain rescue team were called after he was believed to have fallen 100ft from a cliff at around midday.
The town of Avoriaz in the Portes du Soleil in France, where the 50-year-old man was staying with his family (stock)
A chairlift up to one of the slopes in Avoriaz. The British man is believed to have snowboarded off a cliff in Pointe de la Chaux Fleurie, Montriond (stock)
A spokesman said: ‘The man was with his family on holiday. He was in an off-piste area when he fell 30 metres.
‘A witness alerted mountain rescuers at around midday. But he was pronounced dead at the scene.
‘An inquiry has been opened into his death.’
The map shows a general view of Chaux Fleurie and its steep rock faces. It is in this area the snowboarder is believed to have fallen off the cliff and died
Montriond lies at the entrance to the famous Portes du Soleil, which is popular with British holidaymakers.
It is believed the man was alone at the time of the accident, having left his wife and child on the marked pistes.
The slope has been described as ‘difficult’ and ‘for moderately experienced off-piste skiers’ by one website.
It adds that there are ‘some very large cliffs’ halfway down the run, which make it a popular spot for paraskiers.