Two British skiers who were killed in an avalanche at a French ski resort have been named and pictured for the first time.
London businessman Shaun Overy, 51, and sales and marketing director Stuart Leslie, 46, were among three people killed in the snow slide at Val d’Isere, a village in southeastern France, on Friday. The third person killed was a French national.
It is understood both Mr Overy and Mr Leslie were friends and experienced skiers.
A party of five were being led by an instructor when the wave of snow hit, sweeping both Mr Overy and Mr Leslie down the valley and into a stream, where emergency services later found their bodies.
Another British national was left injured after digging himself out of the blanket of snow, according to reports.
A spokesperson for the resort’s slope management team said the instructor did not see the danger as it approached.
France's national weather forecaster, Meteo-France, had issued a red avalanche warning for the Savoie region, which borders Italy, the day before the tragedy unfolded.
The risk was scored four out of a possible five, warning of “very heavy snowfall” in the Alps that had triggered "exceptional avalanche conditions".
The avalanche hit at 11.30am after Storm Nils deposited between 60 and 100 centimeters of snow across the region.
Mr Overy reportedly ran a plumbing business in Wimbledon with his wife Francesca, who is a co-director.
Mr Leslie worked as a sales and marketing director for Barratt Redrow, posting regularly on social media about his passion for off-piste skiing.
His wife Anastasia is understood to have died in 2017.
Paying tribute to Mr Leslie, his friend Craig said: “I take comfort in believing he is with Anna [Anastasia] now – his one true love.”
The deaths of the Britons were confirmed by the Foreign Office.
"We are in contact with the local authorities and stand ready to offer consular assistance," a statement added.
