Cannabis-taking ski tutor blamed for surgeon’s death
A DrUG-tAKInG ski instructor has been blamed for the death of a cancer surgeon who fell 750ft while on holiday with his family.
Philippe Drigo was under the influence of cannabis when he agreed to move urology consultant William Choi, 48, to a more advanced-level group at the popular French resort of la Plagne.
later that day, the group ventured offpiste and Mr Choi, a father of two, suddenly lost his skis and tumbled down a steep slope. the surgeon’s helmet came off when his head struck a rock before he continued rolling down the hill.
onlookers rushed to help Mr Choi, who lay motionless at the bottom of the losset corridor, but desperate efforts to revive the doctor failed and he died a short time
‘Course was too extreme’
later, having suffered traumatic neck and spinal injuries.
Drigo was convicted of involuntary manslaughter by French prosecutors, an inquest in Maidstone, Kent, heard.
Assistant coroner Sonia hayes said Mr Choi had been on the verge of progressing from level two to three, which is considered to be intermediate. the skiers’ skill levels had been assessed in the morning and they were placed into different groups. But before lunch, the urologist asked if he could be moved into a higher group, led by Drigo, so he could ski faster.
the instructor said the doctor had ‘underestimated’ his own ability and should therefore join the ‘level threes’.
earlier that day, Mr Choi – a consultant and surgeon for renal cancer in the east Kent hospitals trust – had enjoyed lunch with his two sons, Alex and Xavier, his partner Abbey and her daughter Phoebe.
In the afternoon, he joined seven other intermediate skiers who were headed up the losset corridor.
Witnesses recalled how Mr Choi listened and followed instructions given by Drigo after reaching the top. he began skiing down the 35degree slope at speed but his skis caught an outcrop, causing him to tumble.
his fatal descent was caught on camera, with the footage handed to authorities as part of the investigation.
Drigo denied taking drugs or alcohol when questioned by French police, but he was later found to be under the influence of cannabis. this may have affected his judgment, the inquest heard.
one couple, helen and roger hughes, had quit Mr Choi’s group because they felt it was ‘too extreme’ for them.
Miss hayes agreed with the French courts that Mr Choi’s death in March 2016 was caused by gross negligence. It was not revealed what penalty Drigo received.