Tragedy as 45-year-old British skier collapses and dies throughout descent at prime French ski resort

A British man has died after collapsing while skiing in France.

The unnamed 45-year-old was going down a slope in the Alpine resort of Les Menuires on Monday when he suddenly went into cardiac arrest, French news outlet Le Dauphiné reports. 

A first aider who was nearby rushed to the scene before paramedics arrived and tried to resuscitate him, but to no avail. 

Bad weather conditions meant that a medical helicopter could not be deployed to the area, according to local media. 

This ski season has been unusually deadly, with more than 20 people killed in France in a series of deadly avalanches. 

It comes after a British snowboarder died after plunging 330 feet from a rocky ledge in an off-piste area near the La Plagne ski resort in the French Alps last week. 

It was around 2.15pm on March 28, when ski patrol at La Plagne was first alerted to the disappearance of a skier, a 43-year-old man.

An initial investigation established that he had last been seen using the ski lifts in the Bécoin area.

A British man died after collapsing in the French ski resort of Les Menuires 

Meanwhile, an alpinist in the area reported a grim discovery to mountain rescue after finding a victim off-piste.

Ski patrollers, alongside the mountain rescue team from the Modane centre, rushed to the scene.

Despite their efforts, the man in his forties did not survive. His body was evacuated by helicopter.

‘The victim, who was alone, was found in the late afternoon in the Bécoin area. She fell about 100 meters from a rocky ledge,’ the Modane CRS said, confirming earlier reports.

Authorities have opened an investigation to determine the exact cause of death.