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| Oxford student didn't go partying before French Alps death, says brother | Oxford student didn't go partying before French Alps death, says brother |
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| The brother of an Oxford undergraduate who is believed to have died of a heart attack in the French Alps has criticised reports that he had been partying before his death. | |
| Matt Smith, 21, is understood to have suffered cardiac arrest after the first night of the Oxford and Cambridge universities’ ski trip in Val Thorens on Sunday morning. | Matt Smith, 21, is understood to have suffered cardiac arrest after the first night of the Oxford and Cambridge universities’ ski trip in Val Thorens on Sunday morning. |
| The state prosecutor in Albertville, Jean-Pascal Violet, said the authorities suspected “heart failure linked to a combination of consuming alcohol and medicines” but that they had no certainty that this was true. | The state prosecutor in Albertville, Jean-Pascal Violet, said the authorities suspected “heart failure linked to a combination of consuming alcohol and medicines” but that they had no certainty that this was true. |
| Smith’s brother Harry told the Guardian: “Matt had definitely not gone out drinking or partying upon arrival in the resort. He went straight to his girlfriend’s hotel room, and so we believe it must have been an underlying health condition. | |
| “It’s been upsetting how most articles have been focusing on details which aren’t even true. There has been little attention to the fact that he was an excellent academic and sportsman who had achieved so much in his 21 years. He brought joy to so many around him and it’s deeply saddening how early he was taken. | “It’s been upsetting how most articles have been focusing on details which aren’t even true. There has been little attention to the fact that he was an excellent academic and sportsman who had achieved so much in his 21 years. He brought joy to so many around him and it’s deeply saddening how early he was taken. |
| “My family and I have been incredibly touched by the amazing love and support that we have been receiving. We have had messages from friends new and old, near and far. Matt would’ve been extremely proud of the support that his friends have been showing.” | |
| It has also been reported that the postmortem examination revealed “no evidence of an intervention by a third party”. | It has also been reported that the postmortem examination revealed “no evidence of an intervention by a third party”. |
| Smith was in his third year studying 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 in London. | Smith was in his third year studying 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 in London. |
| In tribute to his brother, Harry Smith added: “He was brilliant, charming and much more than a brother to me, he was a mentor and someone that I strived to be like while also being my best friend. Without him I wouldn’t be who I am today. He brought so much joy to my life and many others, and the memories we all shared with him will stay with us forever. I loved him so much and I’m going to miss him more than words can describe.” | In tribute to his brother, Harry Smith added: “He was brilliant, charming and much more than a brother to me, he was a mentor and someone that I strived to be like while also being my best friend. Without him I wouldn’t be who I am today. He brought so much joy to my life and many others, and the memories we all shared with him will stay with us forever. I loved him so much and I’m going to miss him more than words can describe.” |
| Thousands of Oxbridge students arrived at the French ski resort, the highest in Europe, at the weekend for the annual event, a fixture on the social calendars of both universities. Publicity for this year’s event billed it as the biggest ski party in the world. “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,” one advert said. | |
| Eóin Barrett-Fulton, who attended Bedford modern school with Smith for nine years, said: “There is no way I could possibly put into words how much Matt meant to me. There was never a dull moment with Matt, be it traveling the world, rowing the Thames, or just hanging out at his house and doing nothing, Matt was always there with a smile on his face and an idea of something fun to do to pass the time.” | Eóin Barrett-Fulton, who attended Bedford modern school with Smith for nine years, said: “There is no way I could possibly put into words how much Matt meant to me. There was never a dull moment with Matt, be it traveling the world, rowing the Thames, or just hanging out at his house and doing nothing, Matt was always there with a smile on his face and an idea of something fun to do to pass the time.” |
| James Rodgers, who also went to school with Matt, said: “I want him to be remembered as the statuesque individual he was. In life, his person and his achievements towered above everyone else. He achieved so much in such a short life yet remained endlessly humble.” | James Rodgers, who also went to school with Matt, said: “I want him to be remembered as the statuesque individual he was. In life, his person and his achievements towered above everyone else. He achieved so much in such a short life yet remained endlessly humble.” |