Carwyn Scott-Howell: Family pay tribute to 'adorable' boy following French Alps ski death

The family of a seven-year-old boy who died while skiing in the French Alps have paid tribute to their "daring, outgoing determined little boy".

Carwyn Scott-Howell died on the final day of his skiing holiday by falling 50m (164ft) off a cliff after he strayed off piste in the ski resort of Flaine, 38 miles from Chamonix.

Described as a "very competent" skier and snowboarder who started aged just three, Carwyn is said to have fallen after going on ahead of his sister after she had lost one of her skis.

The boy's body was later spotted by a helicopter during a mountain rescue search.

In a statement, released through the Foreign Office, his family said: "Carwyn was an adorable caring person who gave so much love.

"Very daring outgoing determined little boy whose handsome smile lit up any room and made life full of laughter with never a dull moment. Seven years is too short a time to be an angel in the sky.

"Carwyn was a very competent skier and snowboarder who had started skiing at the age of three and spent several weeks each year skiing. We had spent the most happy ski holiday together in the French ski resort of Flaine."

It continued: "The family were all enjoying their last ski run over the small jumps and bumps at the side of the slope together, when Carwyn's sister lost her ski on a jump and at this point Carwyn skied ahead.

"The family cannot explain their feeling of utter devastation with a vast void in their hearts. The family would like to thank all their friends and family for their support at this time and the vast help from the British Consulate.

"The family now ask for time to grieve in private."

Police chief Patrick Poirot, head of the mountain rescue division in the nearby town of Annecy, said: ''We think that after losing his parents, the little boy didn't know where to go and skied in the wrong direction.

''He left the marked ski slope and probably skied to the top of a cliff. He then stopped, removed his skis, walked a little way and then fell."

Liam Fitzpatrick, an independent county councillor in the family's home village of Talybont-on-Usk, near Brecon in Wales, said the community is in shock at the news.

He added: "There will be massive support here for them when they come back. The community will be ready to assist in any way it possible can.

"It's impossible to know what they are going through at the moment."