Emotional tributes to Brit skier, 47, killed in horror plunge off ‘world’s most difficult’ slope dubbed the Swiss Wall
EMOTIONAL tributes have been paid to a Brit skier who was killed in a horror plunge off the “world’s most difficult” slope.
Grahame Carter, 47, of Chichester, West Sussex, is understood to have been skiing down the notoriously steep Swiss Wall in in Portes du Soleil near Champery, Switzerland, when tragedy struck.
Swiss Police said the infamous Pas De Chavanette piste – known as one of the most dangerous slopes in the world – was closed at the time due to dangerous icy conditions.
Dad-of-two Grahame, who was holidaying with family and friends, was pronounced dead after falling around 1,000ft down the 37 degree incline route on Wednesday, February 7.
Despite first aid attempts being made, he died at the scene at approximately 9.45am Swiss time (8.45am GMT).
Grahame had worked as Chief Sales Officer at recruitment agency Gattaca in Whiteley, near Fareham, Hants, and was described as having an “infectious passion for life”.
Matthew Cragg, CEO, said in a statement: “If you knew Grahame, you’ll know how warm, kind, funny, caring and generous he was.
“He had an infectious passion for life and was more than a respected leader within our business – he was a dear friend to many, myself included.
“Everyone at Gattaca will miss him terribly and cherish the many wonderful memories we shared with him.
“All our love goes to Grahame’s family and friends at this unimaginable time.
“We kindly ask that you are respectful of them as they come to terms with their loss, as well as our Gattaca colleagues and Grahame’s customers.
“This is a hugely challenging time for everyone who knew Grahame, and we will be doing all that we can to support Grahame’s family and friends, as well as our colleagues.
“As soon as we are able to, prioritising his family’s wishes at every turn, we will share details of our plans to honour Grahame’s life.
“With our deepest condolences, on behalf of everyone at Gattaca.”
The post was shared to LinkedIn and prompted more than 400 comments from those offering their tributes to Grahame.
That includes his wife Roma Carter, who he shared son Harry and daughter Evie with, as she thanked his colleagues for “making us smile, laugh and cry all at the same time” with their comments.
She wrote: “It is so clear how much he was loved.
“He was very easy to love – crazy and impetuous and kind and gentle and the best listener. And excellent at teaching everyone Ice Ice Baby!
“I was lucky to have him in my life for over 25 years – from the 90s working together at The Wine Vaults (it was the 90s – he had very impressive side burns. He drove his old Saab and I drove my Morris Minor) to now he stayed true to his values.
“He treated everyone equally and made us all feel special and cherished. He was the best Husband to me and the best dad to Harry and Evie.
“I am grateful for all those years – I just wish we could have grown old together – we were planning so many new adventures over the forthcoming years.
“Harry, Evie and I will work to continue to make him proud and to recognise the value of every day.”
Police and rescue services in the Swiss Alps launched an investigation into Grahame’s fatal fall.
At the time, a spokesperson for the Swiss Police said: “There were two skiers and a snowboarder. They were on a closed piste.
“It is an extreme run, the most difficult. It is very, very steep. Due to the icy conditions, it was closed.
“There is an investigation underway. The man fell hundreds and hundreds of metres, 300 to 400 metres down the slope.
“The victim was a 47-year-old British national living in England and he died at the scene of the accident. He was most certainly on holiday.
“We are not giving information about the other two people.”
Mr Carter was the third Brit to die in ski-related incidents within a fortnight after a 30-year-old died after a “heavy fall” and a man, 63, suffered a heart attack – both in France.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said it is supporting the family of a British National who died in Switzerland and is in contact with the local authorities.
The Swiss Wall
The Swiss Wall is famous for being one of the hardest and most dangerous skiing slopes in the world
Located in the Portes du Soleil ski area, on the border between France and Switzerland, it stretches 0.6 miles and has a vertical drop of 1,085ft.
Le Pas de Chavanette, as it’s known by locals, also has 37 degrees of inclination and an altitude of 7,053ft.
The Swiss Wall is classified in the Swiss/French difficulty rating as orange, meaning it’s rated as too difficult to fit in the standard classification of green, blue, red and black.
Typically, the run is started by standing on the Swiss-French border, before skiers plunge down the Swiss side of the mountain towards the Les Croset resort.
It’s field of bumps, also known as moguls, can grow to enormous dimensions — the size of a small car – in winters with heavy snowfall.