We are extremely sorry to deliver this sad news today.
Adrien, one of our Belle Plagne instructors, who has been with our La Plagne team for 10 years, was sadly taken from us yesterday in an avalanche on the North Face of the Bellecote glacier.
Adrien and 2 other members of our Oxygène family went to do some off-piste on their day off. They chose to take the Canadian couloir which, with the big amount of snowfall during the previous week, looked like an off-piste dream for many.
Unfortunately at around 1pm the snow cracked and two of the three instructors were taken in one of the biggest avalanches so far this season. All three instructors, highly experienced in off-piste, were equipped with the correct avalanche safety gear including Adrien with his ABS airbag.
As soon as he was found, which took around 15 minutes, his two friends gave first aid until a doctor was airlifted to the scene and then he was flown to Grenoble hospital where unfortunately he did not manage to make it.
Adrien was an experienced and respected professional who put 110% into everything he did. He once said “no matter what nature will do as it likes and it takes no prisoners!” and sadly in this case it is true.
With an engaging, fun and friendly personality, he was adored by all and his loss has come as a huge shock to Oxygène.
Our thoughts are with everyone, especially his friends and family.