Poor snow conditions and crowded runs have contributed to a number of accidents in several popular French ski resorts in recent days.
A skier died in La Plagne, part of the enormous Paradiski area, when he collided with a snowboarder as their two runs converged.
The 47-year-old, who has not been named, suffered a fatal head injury.
In Chamonix, a 38-year-old Frenchman died when he slipped and fell while skiing off-piste. He slid hundreds of metres and hit rocks as he fell.
In a statement, Chamonix’s high mountain police warned that there were few trails open, due to a lack of snow, leading to skiers being concentrated in the same places and increasing the likelihood of collisions. However, it warned that skiing off-piste was not to be encouraged.
In Val d’Isere, one of the most popular resorts with British skiers, authorities are urging skiers to be cautious after a number of accidents.
Last week, rescue workers dealt with 29 accidents on a single day, including nine on the steep La Face run, which was the only slope open from one of the main ski area’s back to the town centre.
