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Investigation: English-speaking witnesses could help

Kieran Brookes (photo: ©Irving of Exeter)

Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Kieran Brookes, age 14, died in a hospital in Devon, Exeter, in England Thursday 17 March, nearly a month after an accident on a chairlift at Châtel, France in the Portes du Soleil ski area.

He had been in a coma since the accident 23 February; doctors were unable to bring him out of the coma.

His parents, Cindy and Nick Brookes of Newton Abbot, had kept a bedside vigil until his death, when he was surrounded by his family and died peacefully.

The youth, who was halfway through a week-long school ski trip with Torquay Boys’ Grammar School in Britain, was caught in the chairlift after it arrived at the top, trapped by his backpack. The chairlift stopped at point where access was extremely difficult and during the time it took an emergency team to reach and free him, his airway was blocked.

Kieran Brookes, centre, front, on Torquay school trip (photo, )

The area was next to a ski slope and the rescue was watched by numerous horrified skiers.

He was initially treated in Annecy, France before being transferred to Exeter.

Students at Torquay school were informed Friday of his death.

The school’s headmaster, Roy Pike, told students “Kieran was a lovely boy, fully involved in the life of the school.  He participated in all sorts of activities, he was full of energy and especially generous to his friends.”

Pike says the school learned after the accident that Kieran had scored in the top 5 percent in a UK national mathematics competition.

Several skiers next to rescue point witnessed the accident

GenevaLunch was contacted by several people who witnessed the accident, hoping for further information.

Those close to the police investigation suggested to GenevaLunch this weekend that if English-speaking witnesses have not yet contacted police to contribute to the investigation into the accident it would be helpful if they do so now. The French police investigation is expected to take several weeks.

Gendarmerie in Abondance, France:

Telephone / +33 4 50 73 01 02
Fax / +33 4 50 73 01 71
E-mail /  bta.abondance [ à ] gendarmerie.interieur.gouv.fr

The school and other parents  have set up a memorial fund for Kieran Brookes, working with Cindy and Nick Brookes.

Background, GenevaLunch

Links to other sites: Facebook condolences page for Kieran Brookes, Torquay Grammar School page on his death