British skier died after ignoring signs ‘Swiss Wall’ was closed

Grahame Carter - British skier died after ignoring signs 'Swiss Wall' was closed
Grahame Carter died on Pas De Chavanette piste, known as one of the most dangerous slopes in the world - X

A British skier died after ignoring signs that a notorious black run dubbed the “Swiss Wall” was closed, an inquest heard.

Grahame Carter, 47, lost control skiing down the steep run in Portes du Soleil near Champery, Switzerland.

The father-of-two’s “violent” fall down the black run was witnessed by another skier, who said he saw Mr Carter falling “head over foot” down the 37 degree incline in February.

Mr Carter, who was wearing a helmet, lost his skis during the fall and suffered injuries “incompatible with survival”, according to a coroner.

The inquest at Horsham Coroner’s Court heard that the Pas De Chavanette piste, known as one of the most dangerous slopes in the world, was closed because of dangerous, icy conditions.

But the inquest heard Mr Carter, from Westhampnett, Chichester, “ignored” the warnings.

The ski slopes of Champery Switzerland with the steep bumpy run called the Swiss Wall
The ski slopes of Champery Switzerland with the steep bumpy run called the Swiss Wall - ALAMY

In a statement read to court, the skier who witnessed the tragedy said: “At around 9.40am as I got on the chair lift I saw this person take a difficult slope. He took a big fall after about 20 metres from the start of the slope.

“The fall was violent and the skier did not stop. He was sliding in all directions then he started to go head over foot. I have never seen that in my life and it was very shocking.

“As the fall went on the skier picked up more and more speed. He stopped about 20 metres before the end of the field.”

The witness said they called emergency services, adding: “Once I reached the top of the chair lift, I saw the slope was closed and rescuers were on site.”

Mr Carter was pronounced dead on the slope around an hour later.

Grahame Carter
Grahame Carter suffered a 'shocking' fall on the dangerous black run

Dr Karen Henderson, the coroner, ruled the death was an accident and gave Mr Carter’s cause of death as traumatic head injury.

Mr Carter worked as chief sales officer at recruitment agency Gattaca in Whiteley, near Fareham, Hampshire. Roma Carter, his wife, read a statement to the inquest paying tribute to her husband’s “zest for life”. She said he was “fabulously competitive, both in general life, workplace and sports teams”.

Mrs Carter said: “He was never one to remain in his comfort zone, he was unashamedly himself. He was always present, he was always available and unerringly reliable to friends and family alike.

“He was ethical, fun, inspiring, determined, inclusive, selfless and compassionate. He laughed a lot and not at others’ expense.

“He was phenomenal, gregarious, warm-hearted and most importantly he was always kind. Everyone always felt a little better after a little dose of Grahame. He is irreplaceable and the world is a worse place without him.”

‘I admire his spirit’

Giving her conclusion, Dr Henderson said: “It was a black slope known to be very difficult and you need to have a good level of skiing to do it. The slope was closed. Unfortunately Mr Carter ignored these warnings. The findings are compatible with a violent fall.”

She added: “He loved being competitive. He didn’t do it to hurt other people, it was just part of his drive and personality.

“He was fully geared up with a helmet and suchlike in the hope that would give him protection but sadly it didn’t.

“At the point he was found, his injuries were such that they were incompatible with his survival.

“There is only one conclusion I can give which is an accident. This was an unintended consequence of a voluntary act. I admire his spirit and his wish to undertake such sports.”