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Stranded British tourists rescued after snowstorm in French Alps Stranded British tourists rescued after snowstorm in French Alps
(35 minutes later)
Hundreds of British holidaymakers have finally reached the ski slopes or returned home after a “nightmare” weekend during which they were trapped in the French Alps by a snowstorm and icy roads that snarled traffic across the region. Hundreds of British holidaymakers have finally reached the ski slopes or returned home after a weekend during which they were trapped in the French Alps by a snowstorm and icy roads that snarled traffic across the region.
A spokeswoman for the ski company Crystal Ski, which had been pilloried by customers on Twitter, said the remaining stranded customers had been picked up from Les Arcs resort on Monday morning after a coach was brought from Italy.A spokeswoman for the ski company Crystal Ski, which had been pilloried by customers on Twitter, said the remaining stranded customers had been picked up from Les Arcs resort on Monday morning after a coach was brought from Italy.
Scores of British tourists spent the weekend in a gym in the Alpine resort of Albertville on their way to or from the slopes. They were among 15,000 travellers forced to seek refuge since Saturday, when heavy snowfall triggered a weather alert on one of the busiest weekends of the skiing season. Hundreds of other travellers slept in their cars as a result of the gridlock.Scores of British tourists spent the weekend in a gym in the Alpine resort of Albertville on their way to or from the slopes. They were among 15,000 travellers forced to seek refuge since Saturday, when heavy snowfall triggered a weather alert on one of the busiest weekends of the skiing season. Hundreds of other travellers slept in their cars as a result of the gridlock.
French authorities said the traffic had returned to normal, though some skiers who had bedded down at Chambéry-Savoie airport reported delays. One tourist, Toby Ahern, tweeted on Monday that he had been at the airport for 39 hours “and counting”.French authorities said the traffic had returned to normal, though some skiers who had bedded down at Chambéry-Savoie airport reported delays. One tourist, Toby Ahern, tweeted on Monday that he had been at the airport for 39 hours “and counting”.
The tourists housed in the gym, who slept on inflatable mattresses, tweeted complaints to Crystal Ski about the “gym of doom”. One, named Mountain Maud, said many holidaymakers were “losing the will to live” while they waited for coaches to rescue them.The tourists housed in the gym, who slept on inflatable mattresses, tweeted complaints to Crystal Ski about the “gym of doom”. One, named Mountain Maud, said many holidaymakers were “losing the will to live” while they waited for coaches to rescue them.
A spokeswoman for Albertville municipal authorities, Lydie Chappelet, said about 40 British skiers came to the emergency shelter, which opened on Saturday afternoon; others arrived in the evening.A spokeswoman for Albertville municipal authorities, Lydie Chappelet, said about 40 British skiers came to the emergency shelter, which opened on Saturday afternoon; others arrived in the evening.
“There were a lot of British,” in the 10 emergency centres in Albertville, she said. “At least three coachloads.” The tourists began to disperse on Sunday afternoon and the centres were closed in the evening, she said.“There were a lot of British,” in the 10 emergency centres in Albertville, she said. “At least three coachloads.” The tourists began to disperse on Sunday afternoon and the centres were closed in the evening, she said.
Mountain Maud tweeted on Monday morning that she was on a coach travelling to her skiing destination.Mountain Maud tweeted on Monday morning that she was on a coach travelling to her skiing destination.
One local official speculated that the delay in providing coaches was due to French drivers having a limit on the number of hours they are allowed to drive. But the Crystal Ski spokeswoman, Marion Telsnig, said coaches had been delayed by road closures.One local official speculated that the delay in providing coaches was due to French drivers having a limit on the number of hours they are allowed to drive. But the Crystal Ski spokeswoman, Marion Telsnig, said coaches had been delayed by road closures.
Telsnig said 1,000 of the company’s clients had been affected by the extreme weather in the French Alps, and thanked the Red Cross for helping to arrange shelter and supplies.Telsnig said 1,000 of the company’s clients had been affected by the extreme weather in the French Alps, and thanked the Red Cross for helping to arrange shelter and supplies.
As recriminations continued in France over the traffic disruption, one government minister blamed motorists for the gridlock. Alain Vidalies, transport minister, pointed to “a problem of collective behaviour”. “The vast majority of vehicles are equipped (with snow chains) but those who aren’t are creating havoc,” he added. Drivers were accused of creating delays by stopping to fit snow chains without pulling over.As recriminations continued in France over the traffic disruption, one government minister blamed motorists for the gridlock. Alain Vidalies, transport minister, pointed to “a problem of collective behaviour”. “The vast majority of vehicles are equipped (with snow chains) but those who aren’t are creating havoc,” he added. Drivers were accused of creating delays by stopping to fit snow chains without pulling over.