Two British skiers died and a third was injured in a devastating avalanche in the French Alps after venturing off-piste under the supervision of a freelance ski instructor, local authorities have confirmed.

The incident occurred at the Val d’Isère resort on Friday during an official level four avalanche warning, one of the highest danger categories, as regional forecasters had repeatedly advised against off-piste skiing due to unstable snow conditions.

Members of the group of four British skiers and their instructor were swept down a steep, unsecured slope when a large mass of snow released, burying them under metres of snow.

A French skier who had been skiing alone above the group was also killed in the same avalanche.

The instructor survived without serious injury, while one of the British skiers sustained minor injuries and was later treated at a local facility.

The avalanche risk for the area had reached the maximum level five/five the previous day, prompting temporary closure of many slopes across the French Alps.

Although warnings were eased to level four by the time of the accident, authorities had clearly communicated that off-piste travel remained extremely hazardous.

Several other guides and instructors at Val d’Isère reportedly declined to take clients off the marked runs on the day of the tragedy, citing safety concerns.

The Albertville public prosecutor’s office has opened a manslaughter investigation, a standard legal procedure in France following fatal mountain accidents.

Investigators will examine whether negligence or disregard for risk advisories contributed to the deaths.

Ski patrols and local officials have underscored that most avalanche fatalities in the Alpine region occur off-piste, where snowpacks are inherently less stable and far more susceptible to collapse than on marked, secured slopes.

The region was experiencing one of its busiest weekends of the winter season, with holidaymakers taking advantage of school breaks.

The tragedy has reignited debate among mountain safety experts and resort operators about the responsibilities of instructors, guides and individuals when navigating high-risk conditions.

With several avalanches reported across the Alps in recent weeks, authorities continue to urge skiers to respect official warnings, remain on marked pistes and recognise the limits of safety equipment when conditions are volatile.

The incident adds to an already deadly season in the Alps, where multiple fatalities have been reported in France, Italy and Austria as heavy snowfall and unstable snowpacks persist.

Mountain rescue teams and regional snow scientists maintain that vigilance and strict adherence to official threat levels are critical to preventing further loss of life in what has become a particularly hazardous period for winter sports.