SIX-FIGURE COST IF YOU HAVE A SKIING INJURY

AN ARMY of skiers and snowboarders are heading for the slopes in the coming weeks as travel restrictions are lifted. But the fun can turn into a costly nightmare if you end up injuring yourself without adequate insurance.

If badly injured on a slope, you could face a six-figure bill for a helicopter to take you to a hospital unless you have cover. Travel trade association ABTA says 3.5million people go skiing every year without adequate travel insurance.

Those happy to ski ‘off piste’ are not automatically covered by standard travel insurance – even if it includes snow sports – so they should get it added to their policy. An insurer might also refuse to meet a claim if someone was not wearing a helmet or was intoxicated when the accident happened.

Insurers offering travel cover for winter sports include Columbus Direct, Esure, Post Office, Admiral, Aviva, TripSure and More Than. Cover for a single person typically costs £15 a week.