Family pay heartbreaking tribute to Manchester mother and son killed in French Alps avalanche tragedy

The family of a Manchester mother and son killed in an avalanche tragedy in the French Alps say they are “beyond heartbroken”.

Kate Vokes, 54, and her son Archie, 22, were killed after the avalanche swept through an off-piste section of the ski resort of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains near Mont Blanc on Thursday. 

A family statement read: “We are beyond heartbroken at the loss of our beloved, wonderful Kate and Archie. Words cannot express how terrible we all feel nor the hole in our lives that has been left by this tragic accident. We kindly ask for privacy as we grieve together as a family.”

It continued "Kate was chair of the Oglesby Charitable Trust, a director of their family-owned property company Bruntwood, deputy chair of the Royal Exchange Theatre and a trustee of charities Shared Health and Focused Care. Archie was a personal trainer at Form in Manchester and in the previous year had achieved his level 1 ski instructor qualification in Canada."

The Royal Exchange said in a statement: "We are absolutely devastated to hear of the death of our Deputy Chair Kate Vokes and her son Archie in such tragic circumstances. Kate was our dear friend, colleague and tireless supporter. She was remarkable. Our love and thoughts are with her family at this incredibly difficult time."