British Snowboarder Found Dead After Fall in Off-Piste Area at La Plagne

British Snowboarder Dies After 100-Metre Fall in La Plagne Off-Piste Zone

A 43-year-old British snowboarder has been found dead in the Bécoin sector of La Plagne, France, after falling more than 100 metres from a rocky ledge while riding off-piste. He is the second Briton to die at the resort this season alone.

What Happened at La Plagne

The man was snowboarding alone on March 28 when he failed to return after lunch as planned. His family raised the alarm, prompting mountain rescue services to begin searching the area.

Rescue teams from CRS La Plagne and the Modane mountain rescue centre were deployed, and investigators used CCTV footage to trace the man's last known movements — pinpointing his final lift use to the Bécoin sector. Before search crews could locate him, another skier in the same off-piste zone discovered an unresponsive person and contacted emergency services.

The victim was found in the late afternoon, roughly 50 minutes into the search. He had fallen approximately 100 metres from a rocky ledge and was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was recovered by helicopter. French prosecutors have since opened an investigation into the circumstances of his death.

Where is the Bécoin Sector?

The Bécoin sector — sometimes referred to as the Biolley sector — sits at high altitude within La Plagne, reaching between 2,330 and 2,345 metres. It's a well-known area among experienced riders for its open terrain and views across Vanoise National Park and Mont Blanc. It's also off-piste territory, which means the risks that come with unpatrolled, unmarked terrain apply in full.

La Plagne sits within the Paradiski ski domain in the Haute-Savoie region of France, linked with Les Arcs and Peisey-Vallandry to form one of the largest interconnected ski areas in Europe — 425km of groomed runs across 53 lifts.

The Second Briton to Die at La Plagne This Season

This is not the first tragedy at La Plagne this winter. In January, a 50-year-old British man died after being buried in an avalanche while skiing off-piste at the same resort. He was found buried under 2.5 metres of snow after a 50-minute search involving 52 rescue workers, dogs, and a helicopter. The mayor of La Plagne noted at the time that the depth and concentration of snow in the area made the recovery particularly difficult.

Then in February, three skiers — including two Britons — died in an avalanche while off-piste at Val d'Isere.

France's Off-Piste Death Toll This Season

The broader picture across France is grim. According to the National Mountain Safety Observation System, 30 skiers have been killed in avalanches in France since the start of the current season. That figure doesn't include deaths from falls and crashes like this one, which are tracked separately.

For comparison, 31 people died in ski accidents across all of last season in France. This season, the avalanche toll alone is approaching that figure before winter has wrapped up.

Beyond fatalities, 104 snowboarders were injured in off-piste accidents last season, with a further 113 injured on marked runs. Sixty-eight recorded collisions between snowboarders and other people on the slopes were also logged.

A Pattern Worth Taking Seriously

Three British skiers and snowboarders dead in one French resort in a single season is not a coincidence — it's a pattern. Off-piste riding carries genuine risk at any time of year, but this season across Europe has been particularly unforgiving, driven by an unstable snowpack that experts have been warning about for months.

If you're heading to the French Alps this season or planning a trip for next year, the standard advice applies more than ever — check avalanche forecasts, carry safety gear, don't ride alone off-piste, and know the terrain before you leave the marked runs behind.