Tragic accident at Grands Montets

20 year-old local boy, Stephane Veillard, tragically lost his life last Wednesday when he became victim of an avalanche at 2700m on the off-piste area of Pendant. He had left the open Bochard run to ski some off-piste couloirs with a friend when the slope gave way and he was buried under 1m of fresh snow. His friend gave the alert immediately and he was found 40 minutes later in a state of cardio-vascular arrest by a team of forty rescue workers searching with probes. He received intensive medical care at the scene but his heart was only restarted as he was being airlifted to hospital in Sallanches. Those who knew him described him as a free-spirit who loved skiing and the mountains and his death has left the community in shock. The avalanche exercise organised by the local mountain rescue society that was due to be held on Saturday was cancelled in his honour. Next Tuesday, a farewell mass will be held at St-Jacques' church in Sallanches at 2.30pm.