British student Emily Watts dies after snowboarding accident in France - The Guardian

A British student who suffered a horrific snowboarding accident in the French Alps has died, her family has said.

Emily Watts, known as Mimi, fell headfirst into a snowdrift and was stuck for about 45 minutes following the incident in Chamonix on Saturday.

By the time emergency crews arrived, the 26-year-old, from Lavenham in Suffolk, had suffered a cardiac arrest, prompting fears of brain damage.

Her parents, Nicky McAllister and Dominic Watts, along with her 27-year-old brother Rory, flew to France to be by her bedside.

But after a number of days on a life support machine, she died earlier today, her aunt Shona Pollock said.

In a statement issued before Watts's death, her family said the outlook was "very bleak" but the support they had received from friends and family had been "heartwarming".

They met with rescuers this week to establish a better picture of what had happened and discovered a British man had raised the alarm.

"So far, we have spoken to the police, who have explained exactly what happened," the statement said.

"She was at the edge of the piste where the snow was compacted and safe, but caught an edge and was catapulted into a 70cm pile of powder.

"From the middle of the piste it was impossible to see her unless you were within two metres of the accident site.

"Luckily a British man saw a mark in the snow as he skied past, stopped and ran back up the slope to check it out.

"We're extremely grateful for that man's efforts – when he discovered somebody was stuck he called for help."

Pollock said the family had been "consumed with grief" since the accident.

"It's so sad," she said. "Mimi is a fabulous, outgoing character, plucky, and someone who loved the mountains.

"She is adored by her brother. She's just a thoroughly positive, optimistic, lovely girl."

French police were unable to notify the family for a day as Watts was not wearing any identification, Pollock said.

The design student was taken to hospital in nearby Annecy and later transferred to a specialist unit.

It is believed no one else was involved in the accident.

The experienced snowboarder had been in France for a few weeks and was working at the resort, her aunt said.

Watts was in the Grands Montets, the largest pisted skiing area in the Chamonix valley, on the first day of the season when the accident happened.

She reportedly suffered the cardiac arrest while rescuers were struggling to reach her at the top of the Pierre a Ric run.

She had attended a local convent in Bury St Edmunds and was due to begin a masters degree course in design, her aunt said.