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| Friends pay tribute to Oxford student who died in French Alps | Friends pay tribute to Oxford student who died in French Alps |
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| Friends of a third-year Oxford history undergraduate who died of a heart attack in the French Alps have said they thought he was “invincible”. | Friends of a third-year Oxford history undergraduate who died of a heart attack in the French Alps have said they thought he was “invincible”. |
| The 22-year-old, named by friends on social media as Matt Smith, was found after the first night of the Oxford and Cambridge universities’ ski trip in Val Thorens on Sunday morning. | |
| Thousands of Oxbridge students arrived at the French ski resort, the highest in Europe, at the weekend for the annual event. | Thousands of Oxbridge students arrived at the French ski resort, the highest in Europe, at the weekend for the annual event. |
| Smith, who was in his third year reading history at St John’s College and according to Facebook had recently completed a three-month internship as a junior press officer at Sotheby’s living in London, was described by friends as a “smashing lad” who was full of “fun and adventure”. | Smith, who was in his third year reading history at St John’s College and according to Facebook had recently completed a three-month internship as a junior press officer at Sotheby’s living in London, was described by friends as a “smashing lad” who was full of “fun and adventure”. |
| Eóin Barrett-Fulton wrote on Facebook: “Still don’t believe it, he was taken far too soon. We all thought he was invincible. I’ll always love you Matt and I hope you’re resting better now. You’ll forever be one of my oldest and greatest friends.” | Eóin Barrett-Fulton wrote on Facebook: “Still don’t believe it, he was taken far too soon. We all thought he was invincible. I’ll always love you Matt and I hope you’re resting better now. You’ll forever be one of my oldest and greatest friends.” |
| According to a Swiss newspaper, Le Matin, his friends were unable to revive him after finding him at about 8am on Sunday, prompting them to call the emergency services. Paramedics were also unable to save him and he is suspected of having suffered a heart attack. Gendarmes have said an autopsy will be carried out later in the week. | According to a Swiss newspaper, Le Matin, his friends were unable to revive him after finding him at about 8am on Sunday, prompting them to call the emergency services. Paramedics were also unable to save him and he is suspected of having suffered a heart attack. Gendarmes have said an autopsy will be carried out later in the week. |
| It is understood that he had arrived in Val Thorens by coach with a group of friends from the UK on Saturday. | It is understood that he had arrived in Val Thorens by coach with a group of friends from the UK on Saturday. |
| The annual trip is a fixture on the social calendars of both universities, with publicity for this year’s event billing it as the biggest ski party in the world. Its advertising reads: “Those lucky enough to attend can ski all day on the slopes of one of the best ski areas in the world, and party all night.” | |
| A spokesman for Nuco Travel, which organised this year’s event, told the Varsity student newspaper that “sadly one of our passengers passed away on Sunday 4 December 2016. At this time, to respect their family’s and friends’ privacy, we will not be commenting further.” | A spokesman for Nuco Travel, which organised this year’s event, told the Varsity student newspaper that “sadly one of our passengers passed away on Sunday 4 December 2016. At this time, to respect their family’s and friends’ privacy, we will not be commenting further.” |
| The first varsity ski trip was held in Switzerland in 1922 and attracts more than 3,000 young people a year, with a standard self-catering package costing £339. | The first varsity ski trip was held in Switzerland in 1922 and attracts more than 3,000 young people a year, with a standard self-catering package costing £339. |
| A spokeswoman for the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said: “We are supporting the family of a British national who died in France on 4 December. We are in contact with the local authorities.” | A spokeswoman for the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said: “We are supporting the family of a British national who died in France on 4 December. We are in contact with the local authorities.” |