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Shutterstock/Henri Faure

Seven-year-old British boy killed after skiing over cliff in the French Alps

It’s understood he skied over the cliff after straying off piste.

A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD British boy died when he skied over a cliff after straying off piste in the French Alps, emergency services said Saturday.

The boy, who had been on a family skiing holiday in the resort of Flaine in France’s Haute Savoie region, is believed to have taken a wrong turn on Friday after asking his mother if he could make the last descent of the day alone.

“He hit a rocky outcrop, then fell 50 to 100 metres (160 to 320 feet),” an emergency services spokesperson said.

The boy had earlier been skiing in a family group with his mother and brothers and sisters. The spokesperson added:

He was on holiday in the area with his family and had asked permission from his mother to make the last descent on his own.

Rescuers believe he died instantly, around two hours before being found.

An investigation has been launched.

© AFP 2015.

Read: Woman allegedly claimed her relative died in Germanwings crash to get free flights>

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    Mute james comiskey
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    Apr 11th 2015, 12:37 PM

    I really don’t think your #tag is appropriate

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    Mute Fergal Reid
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    Apr 11th 2015, 12:47 PM

    I reckon we’ll be seeing that removed fairly quickly alright!

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    Mute RonanM
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    Apr 11th 2015, 12:50 PM

    Such a tragic accident but such a good #tag

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    Mute Robert Cummins
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    Apr 11th 2015, 12:55 PM

    Just about to comment on the hash tag myself. Completely inappropriate and almost makes a joke of this tragic incident.

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    Mute Tweeter
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    Apr 11th 2015, 1:09 PM

    I thought the same!

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    Mute Tweeter
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    Apr 11th 2015, 1:10 PM

    I’d say it was just an oversight.

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    Mute Corcorab
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    Apr 11th 2015, 1:13 PM

    I thought the exact same when I saw it, comes across as very sarcastic

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    Mute robby rottenest
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    Apr 11th 2015, 1:14 PM

    #tag moron needs a kick up the arse. Poor lad and his family.

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    Mute Daniel ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
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    Apr 11th 2015, 1:28 PM

    Which one?

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    Mute RonanM
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    Apr 11th 2015, 2:15 PM

    Daniel

    #WrongTurn

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    Mute Del Haven
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    Apr 11th 2015, 5:51 PM

    Also it’s skiied not skied

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    Mute scarbouro
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    Apr 11th 2015, 12:39 PM

    What a tragic accident. Such heartbreak for that family. Not sure why a 7 year old would be allowed to decend a mountain by himself. RIP little man.

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    Mute Gav Murphy
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    Apr 11th 2015, 12:42 PM

    #badtaste

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    Mute Robert Cummins
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    Apr 11th 2015, 12:56 PM

    #agreed

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    Mute Suzy Farrell
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    Apr 11th 2015, 1:05 PM

    That hashtag is absolutely disgraceful

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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Apr 11th 2015, 1:47 PM

    A child is dead and all Glen, The Doctor and Brendan Julian can think about is how to score points off each other. As my son would say: real mature.
    What a tragedy. Those poor parents; how must they feel!

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    Mute Glen
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    Apr 11th 2015, 2:04 PM

    Mary
    Look don’t go putting me in the same category as that eejit as he was trolling me and does so on any article I comment on. I’m not looking to score points, I’m not taking sh!t of a troll.
    I am entitled to comment without being harassed by Brendan.

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    Mute Glen
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    Apr 11th 2015, 12:52 PM

    I know who I hold responsible for this accident.

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    Mute Justin Devaney
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    Apr 11th 2015, 2:32 PM

    #hisparents

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    Mute Brendan Julian
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    Apr 11th 2015, 5:00 PM

    As you say glen its an accicdent. So nobody is responsable. And in flâine in the haute Savoie they also have ski piste for children. Sounds like a freak accicdent sorry to say

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    Mute b
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    Apr 11th 2015, 11:08 PM

    So if your child takes a wrong turn off the children’s piste they drop off a cliff?

    Don’t think I’ll be letting my 9 year old anywhere near that resort.

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    Mute Brendan Julian
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    Apr 12th 2015, 12:21 AM

    Your choice honey

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    Mute Brendan Julian
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    Apr 11th 2015, 12:54 PM

    Breaking news glen makes a no sense comment

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    Mute Glen
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    Apr 11th 2015, 1:01 PM

    Brendan
    A young lad is dead.
    If you want to troll me please do it on another article.

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    Mute Brendan Julian
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    Apr 11th 2015, 1:13 PM

    No trolling glen. Who gives you the right to hold anybody responsable ?? Thats right a boy is dead and you Want to start hunting down the responsable .

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    Mute Glen
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    Apr 11th 2015, 1:24 PM

    I’m entitled to my opinion as is everyone else according to the report.
    I find it funny that you despise my comments yet always read them
    Seriously get a life lad.

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    Mute TheDoctor
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    Apr 11th 2015, 1:27 PM

    Yeah you are right glen. Let’s kick her when she down.

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    Mute Glen
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    Apr 11th 2015, 1:38 PM

    The doctor
    Would you prefer if we all made pc comments to suit people like you.

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    Mute Brendan Julian
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    Apr 11th 2015, 1:49 PM

    Think about the kid glen and his family.not about who is responsable . Leave that to the profesionals. Maybe they would be interested in who you are holding responsible

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    Mute Glen
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    Apr 11th 2015, 1:57 PM

    You’re a sad sad troll Brendan. But I’m going nowhere so your going to have to see my comments day in day out so deal with it.

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    Mute Brendan Julian
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    Apr 11th 2015, 2:13 PM

    But i made a fair point glen and thats not trolling.now you tell me u are going nowhere and tell me to get a life. Poor glen

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    Mute Glen
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    Apr 11th 2015, 2:17 PM

    You’re a fool and a troll Brendan
    I’m ignoring you on this site from here on.
    That’s the first time I have had to do that but I don’t want to put up with your schoolboy antics.

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    Mute Brendan Julian
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    Apr 11th 2015, 2:25 PM

    No antics glen as u said im entitled to my opinion and thats what im giving. Now go look for more sympathy of mary. Oh and u never did say who u are holding responsable

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    Mute nikki
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    Apr 11th 2015, 2:42 PM

    Brendan and glen ye should be ashamed of yourselves using this article to have a p1ssing contest. Go do it somewhere more appropriate.

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    Mute The Dude
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    Apr 11th 2015, 5:29 PM

    @nikki – in fairness to glen – I would say Brendan and co are trying to agitate him.

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    Mute Glen
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    Apr 11th 2015, 6:08 PM

    You know like, the dude is right man!

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    Mute Brendan Julian
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    Apr 11th 2015, 10:36 PM

    I must be one hell of a throller so?

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    Mute Brendan Julian
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    Apr 11th 2015, 10:38 PM

    Lets call the doctor

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    Mute Brendan Julian
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    Apr 11th 2015, 1:34 PM

    Very hard not to fall in one of your comments when you live on this site.as you said a lad is dead and all you CAN think about is catching the culprit. Way to go miss marple

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    Mute Glen
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    Apr 11th 2015, 1:41 PM

    “Don’t argue with stupid people as they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience”

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    Mute Patrick Jackman
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    Apr 11th 2015, 3:19 PM

    This tragically underscores the madness of skiing off piste.

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Apr 11th 2015, 4:12 PM

    Don’t be stupid, I ski off piste 90% of my ski days over 100 days a year and the only major injury I have had is slipping walking to a bus in the village.

    With good education and knowledge of a resort off piste skiing is statistically ( based on claims) safer than piste skiing

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    Mute Suzie Sunsine
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    Apr 11th 2015, 8:03 PM

    Yeah but a seven year old ?

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Apr 11th 2015, 9:41 PM

    Suzie all other industry reports are stating that he popped off a marked blue run in a resort not that he was skiing an off piste route.

    There are 7/8 year olds in our resort that can do backflips and pop of substantial drops!

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    Mute Suzie Sunsine
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    Apr 11th 2015, 9:58 PM

    Wayne , I understand what you are saying , but were talking about a child on holidays , not a child who would have regular access to the slopes and be used to it .

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Apr 11th 2015, 10:09 PM

    Suzie, plenty of British kids spend 6-8 weeks per season on snow plus twice weekly sessions in indoor snow domes! I can name 5/6 British kids with the same age profile of this kids who are capable of skiing most terrain.

    You are making assumptions without facts to support them

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Apr 11th 2015, 3:15 PM

    He could have been with his parents of a guide so apportioning blame at this time without knowing the facts is irresponsible. There will be a lot of questions to be asked about what happened, but until then you should hold your tounge Glen

    I work full time as a ski instructor on and off piste and accidents do some times happen.

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    Mute Glen
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    Apr 11th 2015, 3:29 PM

    With your experience would you recommend that a 7 year old be allowed go it alone when there is a chance for accidents to happen?

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Apr 11th 2015, 4:10 PM

    Glen that would be 100% of the time! Accidents can happen anywhere for all we know the difference in the route could have been 10 meters distance.

    When working with kids I give explicit and clear instructions but at this time of the season routes that were safe and skiable last week may not be safe and skiable today! Due to snow pack erosion, the appearance of features that don’t exist in deeper snow etc.

    The child could have skied the same route at the weekend and it was safe, perhaps a reverse collapsed under him or the snowpack gave way which happens a lot at this time of the year

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    Mute Glen
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    Apr 11th 2015, 4:26 PM

    Wayne
    You didn’t answer my question.

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Apr 11th 2015, 4:38 PM

    Glen, unlike you have have a different source on this story that is reporting the child ventured off a blue run rather than that he was skiing off piste!

    I live in a resort where kids that age ski all the time alone, they walk to school
    Alone and are safe. As an instructor if a child is in my charge I would be grossly negligent to let them out of my site.

    However as above most resorts kids ski alone or unaccompanied as it is quite safe and accidents are rare and uncommon. Most children get hurt when accompanied by an adult

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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Apr 11th 2015, 9:14 PM

    The clue is in your comment. Children ski all the time alone and to school. Yes, the children who live there. This child is British so may very well have been on holiday.

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Apr 11th 2015, 9:40 PM

    Mary, I have guests who return every year and have done for generations. He was sent down a Blue marked piste bye his parents, according to those on resort (planet ski/wolve2ski & skiclubuk reports.

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    Mute Mick lennon
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    Apr 11th 2015, 3:54 PM

    Rip in peace

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