Director of major Manchester property firm and her son, 22, killed in French avalanche tragedy

Two people who died in an avalanche in the French Alps earlier this week were a mother and son from Manchester, their family have confirmed.

Kate Vokes, 54, and her son Archie Vokes, 22, lost their lives after an avalanche swept through an off-piste section of the resort of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains near Mont Blanc on December 28.

Ms Vokes was chair of the Oglesby Charitable Trust, a director of their family-owned property company Bruntwood, deputy chair of the Royal Exchange Theatre and a trustee of charities Shared Health and Focused Care.

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Mr Vokes was a personal trainer at Form in Manchester, and in the previous year had achieved his level 1 ski instructor qualification in Canada.

A family spokesperson said: “We are beyond heartbroken at the loss of our beloved, wonderful Kate and Archie.

“Words cannot express how terrible we all feel nor the hole in our lives that has been left by this tragic accident. We kindly ask for privacy as we grieve together as a family.”

The pair had been skiing with other family members at the time of the tragedy, according to the Bonneville public prosecutor’s office.

Another skier, reportedly an instructor, has been left injured and a hiker was killed in a separate area after the avalanche.

The avalanche hurtled through an off-piste section of the Saint-Gervais-les-Bains ski resort on Thursday, according to the administration for the Haute-Savoie region.

A search-and-rescue effort was deployed, including around 20 rescuers, two dog teams, a doctor and two helicopters, lasting around five hours.

The avalanche may have been caused by cross-country skiers who were uphill, the Bonneville public