Father and son die in Alps tragedy

A father tumbled to his death as he searched for his son who had fallen 300 metres while they were hiking in the French Alps, police believe.

The bodies of Peter Saunders, 48, and son Charlie, 12, were found by rescue services near Mont Blanc on Sunday morning.

Mr Saunders had called for help at 2pm local time on Saturday after Charlie fell down a cliff on a mountain trail in the Chamonix valley.

It was reported the pair, who are said to be from Buckinghamshire, had set off without snowshoes to explore a "dangerous, deep, snowy" mountain trail between Bossons and Les Houches when they died. Charlie fell from around 300 metres, while his father fell 200 metres, reports said.

Captain Patrice Ribes, a French police officer, said emergency services had unsuccessfully tried to trace Mr Saunders' mobile phone call and launched a helicopter rescue. "We think the father tried to find his son after he called us and asked for rescue. We believe he fell as he tried to find his son. Their bodies were found together this morning at 7.40am," he said on Sunday.

In a statement issued by the Foreign Office, their family said: "Peter and Charlie Saunders were involved in a tragic accident whilst walking in the French Alps.

"They had flown to the French Alps for a short weekend of adventure in the Chamonix valley. They were to have a half day walking followed by a full day skiing.

"Charlie was always full of life, had a really happy temperament and loved spending time with his father. Peter was fantastic at making things happen, resourceful, with a positive approach to life. They will both be sorely missed by friends and family alike."

Mr Saunders and Charlie had been on a weekend holiday when the accident happened, Capt Ribes said. The rest of the family are still in England but are expected to travel to the Chamonix valley shortly, he added, and a local judicial inquiry is being carried out ahead of the bodies being flown home.

David Hudson, the headmaster of Charlie's school, the Royal Latin in Buckingham, said he was "a talented and very motivated boy who made a huge impact on the lives of every one who knew him".