Step by tragic step, the final moments of ski boy aged 7 who fell 160ft to his death
THE seven-year-old boy killed after getting lost in the French Alps had skied into woods before sliding towards a 164ft cliff, it was revealed last night.
It is thought Carwyn ScottHowell may have entered the dense woodland because he thought it was a shortcut to his hotel.
He was on holiday with his mother Ceri Scott-Howell, nine-year-old sister Antonia and brother Gerwyn, 19.
The family were enjoying the last run of their trip in perfect conditions in the town of Flaine when Antonia fell over and her mother stopped to help her.
Within moments Carwyn, whom friends say modelled himself on survival specialist and TV presenter Bear Grylls, is believed to have taken the chance to go skiing in nearby woodland.
He skied 100 yards off-piste, where trees were just a yard apart. Unable to weave through, he took his skis off and is thought to have started sliding on his bottom or running.
Last night, there were reports Carwyn could have been trying to get to his hotel, Les Terrasses d’Eos, which can be seen from the ski slope.
He continued 400 yards, until he plunged off the side of the mountain and fell 164ft. It is believed he landed
‘Tried to get to his
hotel on foot’
on a rocky ledge. After a search spanning two hours, a rescue helicopter spotted Carwyn’s body. As the vehicle was unable to land, crews were winched down to reach the boy, who was declared dead at the scene after 7pm.
Last night, his family, from Talybonton-Usk, near Brecon, Wales, remained in the Alpine resort – a 38-mile drive from Chamonix – in free accommodation provided by the hotel. They are expected to leave today.
Police sources said the boy’s body may be expatriated today after final post-mortem examinations yesterday.
Michel Ollagnon, police commander from nearby Bonneville, said Carwyn was found wearing his glasses, dispelling reports he went into the woods because he did not have them on.
Despite initial reports that Carwyn’s mother had let him try the last run of the day alone, Mr Ollagnon said: ‘ In fact … he went up with his mother, sister and brother.
‘The sister fell, the mother stopped and the little boy went off … Why he went in that direction, we do not know … One thing is sure, the skis were found quite a way from the cliffside.’ Family friends in Bre- con yesterday paid tribute to the boy. One said: ‘Carwyn loved exploring. That’s what he spent all his time doing.
‘He was a little adventurer. He was quite fearless really. He’d always be out in nature.’
Another friend added: ‘He idolised Bear Grylls and loved spending his time in the woods … He’d grown up in the mountains and [was] used to those kind of conditions, which makes this awful accident all the more tragic.’
A worker at Flaine hire shop Ski Set, who gave her name as Charlotte, said: ‘The slope is about 40 metres [131ft] wide.
‘You would have to really try to come off the piste … The trees are about 1.5 to two metres [6ft 6in] high. He must have had to push through … It seems he could see the hotel from where he was standing and tried to get there on foot.’
Carwyn’s parents, ex-nurse Mrs Scott-Howell and husband Rhys, a former butcher, rent out self-catering cottages and run a farm.
Local farmer Peter Davies said: ‘It’s just so sad … The whole farming fraternity is praying for them.’