The loved ones of a mother and son who perished in an avalanche in the French Alps have expressed being “completely devastated” by the unfortunate event.
On December 28, a snow avalanche struck an out-of-bounds area in the Saint-Gervais-les-Bains resort near Mont Blanc, resulting in the death of Kate Vokes (54) and Archie Vokes (22) from Manchester.
The family expressed deep sorrow over the passing of our dear and cherished Kate and Archie.
“Words cannot express how terrible we all feel nor the hole in our lives that has been left by this tragic accident. We kindly ask for privacy as we grieve together as a family.”
Kate Vokes held the position of chair for the Oglesby Charitable Trust and also served as a director for their family’s property company, Bruntwood. She was also the deputy chair for the Royal Exchange theatre and a trustee for charities Shared Health and Focused Care.
Archie Vokes worked as a personal trainer at Form in Manchester. Last year, he obtained his level 1 ski instructor certification in Canada.
According to reports, they were skiing outside of the designated slopes with an instructor when the avalanche struck. The local authorities stated that it happened at an elevation of approximately 2,300 metres and traveled a distance of 400 metres.
According to the Bonneville public prosecutor’s office, Kate and Archie Vokes were skiing with their family when the avalanche occurred. The gendarmes who were stationed in the mountains reported that the avalanche was most likely triggered by a group of skiers higher up on the slopes.
The instructor, who was the third skier, was also buried but was equipped with an avalanche detector and was promptly located. Reports state that he only suffered minor injuries. Five others, including the deceased’s husband and father, managed to escape.
A team of approximately 20 rescuers, two dog teams, a doctor, and two helicopters were dispatched for a search and rescue mission that lasted five hours. The local police in Chamonix have launched an investigation for manslaughter, according to the prosecutor’s office.
According to Jean-Luc Boch, the head of the Association of Mayors of Mountain Resorts, there is no such thing as completely safe backcountry skiing.
According to FrenchInfo, the concept of “zero risk” does not apply to off-piste skiing. Even when accompanied by professionals such as guides and ski instructors, there is still a risk present.
A representative from the Foreign Office stated: “We are providing assistance to the relatives of two British individuals who passed away in France and are communicating with the authorities in the region.”
Source: theguardian.com
