British tourists fall to death in Alpine ravine

Two British tourists have plunged to their deaths down a French Alpine ravine that has claimed the lives of seven other holidaymakers in 10 years.

Richard Ryan, 27, and Christopher Lockwood, 28, fell while returning home after a night out in the ski resort of Les Deux Alpes. The pair, both from Leeds, were last seen by friends leaving the popular British-style pub Smithy’s to return to their chalet at about 2am last Thursday.

The two men were “probably very drunk” when they fell into the Combe Noir ravine, police in the resort said.

A Deux Alpes police spokesman added: “Their friends alerted us that they were missing in the early hours of Thursday. Interviews with friends also revealed both men had drunk large quantities of beer that evening. The spot where they fell is very steep and, although unprotected, there are signs everywhere.”

The deaths come after the body of British teacher Christopher Hilton, 33, from Stalybridge, near Manchester, who vanished in the French Alps seven months ago, was discovered on a mountainside on Friday. His body was found partly covered in snow and ice on a rocky ledge in the Oisans range.