Family’s tribute to ‘handsome and daring’ boy in Alps tragedy

Carwyn Scott-Howell died after falling from a cliff edge in the resort of Flaine on Friday.

The youngster’s family paid tribute to him. “Carwyn was an adorable, caring person who gave so much love,” they said in a statement.

“(He was a) 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.

“The family cannot explain their feeling of utter devastation with a vast void in their hearts.”

They described Carwyn as a “very competent” skier and snowboarder who had been practising winter sports since the age of three and spent several weeks on the snow each year.

They told how “the most happy ski holiday” turned to tragedy after Carwyn became detached from the group on the last run of the day.

“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 statement said.

Local newspaper Le Dauphine Libere said Carwyn appeared to have travelled off piste before falling at least 160ft (49m) from a rocky outcrop.

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.”

The family have a farm in the village of Talybont-on-Usk in the Brecon Beacons, where Carwyn’s parents Ceri and Rhys run an award-winning produce business and rent holiday cottages.