British skier died after heart attack in the Alps gripped by snow chaos
A BRITISH skier who died after falling off a chair lift following a suspected heart attack in the French Alps on Friday has been named as Jeff Martin, 65.
Mr Martin was on holiday with family and friends in the ski resort of Meribel when he fell
32ft from the moving lift.
The Briton was with a friend when he became unwell a minute after the lift left the station and he was pronounced dead 30 minutes later.
Mountain rescue spokesman Major Christian Crueize said: “The friend thought the victim was joking around but in fact he was suffering a heart attack.
“He was certainly ill on the chairlift before falling but an autopsy has been demanded to determine the cause of death.”
Mr Martin was a highly experienced yachtsman who lived in Falmouth, Cornwall, and was executive secretary of the International Laser Class Association for 40 years.
It said it was “shocked and saddened” and added: “The loss of Jeff will be keenly felt throughout the sailing world and our condolences go out to Jeff’s family and friends.”
Mr Martin’s death comes as snow chaos claimed at least 21 lives across Europe. A Siberian blast caused 12ft high snow drifts and triggered avalanches.
So far a pocket of warm air over the Atlantic has protected the British Isles, but following above-average temperatures this weekend, forecasters have warned wintery conditions will sweep in from the middle of the week and could last into February.
Today until midweek it will be mild for most with highs of 8C or 9C – more than double the average national temperature of 3.5C – with some rain for most.
The weather pattern which sparked last year’s Beast from the East of freezing temperatures and heavy snow has already formed.
A sudden stratospheric warming appeared around Christmas when there was a sharp increase in the temperature over a couple of days.
This caused an Arctic blast to sweep down across Europe a few weeks later, bringing much cooler temperatures.
Alpine countries have seen heavy snowfalls with five Bavarian districts declaring a state of emergency and the German Army drafted in to help.
A further six feet of snow is expected in the northern Alps accompanied by gale force winds from today until Tuesday, raising the risk of more drifts and avalanches.
Deputy chief meteorologist Martin Young said: “The latest forecast suggests the highest risk of any severe wintry weather is from late January and into February.
“From the middle of next week, and especially during the last week of January and into early February, there is an increased likelihood of cold weather becoming established across all of the UK.
“This would bring an enhanced risk of snow and widespread frost almost anywhere across the UK, but particularly across northern parts.
“However, the cold weather may not affect the whole of the UK and it is still possible that some milder and wetter interludes will intersperse this generally cold period, especially in the south.”
Last week temperatures in Romania plunged to a low of -24C while even parts of Greece fell to -23C.