The deaths of a mother and son who died in an avalanche in the French Alps has been ruled as accident by a coroner in Stockport
Kate Vokes 54 and her son Archie Vokes 22 died after the avalanche swept through an off-piste section of the resort of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains near Mont Blanc last December
Manchester South Coroner’s Court on heard that the experienced skiers were on a family holiday and were familiar with the area and the two were caught in the avalanche and later recovered from the snow.
Senior coroner Alison Mutch said: “It is very clear that the French authorities have investigated the circumstances and the indication is that there are to be no proceedings in that country.
“The evidence I have heard is that both Katharine Vokes and Archie Vokes were experienced skiers who, on the day in question, were struck by an avalanche and very sadly lost their lives as a consequence of that, dying, as we have heard, from asphyxia.”
She recorded conclusions of accidental death for both.
