December 31st 2023.
A family has been left broken following the tragic incident that claimed the lives of a mother and son from Manchester. Kate Vokes, 54, and her son Archie, 22, were swept away while skiing off-piste at the resort of St Gervais les Bains, near Mont Blanc on Thursday.
In a statement released by a family spokesperson, the family said they are ‘beyond heartbroken’ at the loss of their beloved and wonderful Kate and Archie and asked for privacy as they grieve together as a family.
The statement also highlighted the professional accomplishments of Ms Vokes, who was chair of the Oglesby Charitable Trust and director of their family-owned property company Bruntwood, as well as her role as deputy chair of the Royal Exchange Theatre and a trustee of charities Shared Health and Focused Care.
Archie Vokes was a personal trainer at Form in Manchester, and in the previous year had achieved his level 1 ski instructor qualification in Canada.
The two had been skiing with other family members, according to the Bonneville public prosecutor’s office.
Dozens of mountain rescuers set out to search for skiers trapped under the tons of snow.
Thankfully, a third skier, the instructor, was wearing a detector helmet and was quickly found. Five other people managed to escape, including the husband and father of the deceased.
The incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of skiing off-piste and the devastation that can follow. The family's loss is heartbreaking and they are now relying on the support of friends and family to help them through this difficult time.
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