Industry News
A 10-year-old girl tragically died following a skiing accident in the French ski resort of Villard-de-Lans, located in the Vercors mountain range in the department of Isère. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, January 21, when the young skier, participating in a ski class on the blue slope of Chevreuil, collided with a rock face at the edge of the slope.
The reasons for the girl’s sudden detour from the designated ski course remain unclear. At approximately 3:30 p.m., rescue teams arrived at the scene and worked swiftly to revive her. Despite wearing a ski helmet, the child suffered a severe head injury. She was successfully resuscitated on site and was airlifted to Grenoble Alpes University Hospital in critical condition. Sadly, despite the best efforts of the medical personnel, she succumbed to her injuries the following evening, January 22.
The accident has shocked the local community, and residents of Villard-de-Lans, a small village nestled within the Vercors Massif, are shaken by the tragic incident. “People are quite discreet about it out of consideration for the family,” said one local resident. The village’s emotional response reflects the close-knit nature of the community, where incidents like this are rare. The town’s mayor, Arnaud Mathieu, expressed condolences on behalf of the municipality, highlighting the profound impact the tragedy has had on the village.
In the wake of the incident, the town’s school, which the young skier attended, quickly implemented support measures. A psychological support cell was set up by the National Education Ministry to help students and staff cope with the traumatic event. On January 23, the 350 students returned to class, where the support of a psychologist, as well as the presence of the mayor and other local officials, helped facilitate conversations and provide comfort.
A Nordic event, La Foulée Blanche, which was scheduled for January 23, was initially in question as the girl’s school had planned to participate. In light of the tragedy, the school decided to cancel the visit while the race went ahead after a moment of silence for the young deceased skier.
Villard-de-Lans is part of the Villard/Corrençon ski area, which offers 125 kilometers (78 miles) of groomed runs across the two interconnected villages. The resort has 36 slopes: 12 green, 9 blue, 7 red, and 8 black. The ski area is serviced by 19 lifts, including two gondolas and one chondola.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident, which will hopefully provide further clarity on what led to the fatal collision.
