A young mother died from multiple injuries when she hit a tree in a tobogganing accident in the French Alps.

Helen Kemp, 34, of Hunt Road, Earls Colne, was holidaying in the resort of Motterette with husband Simon, their six-year-old daughter Megan, and family and friends.

During the week-long annual trip in February, Helen, Simon, Mrs Kemp's brother Danny and his fiancee, Tina Ward, decided to go sledging down the Meribel les Allues ski run.

Mr Kemp told an inquest at Colchester Town Hall yesterday (Wednesday) the group, all quite experienced skiers, went out at about 6pm on Thursday, February 22.

"It was late in the day but we knew exactly where we were going. We had been sledging on Tuesday and had skied down it with the girls all week. It is like a beginners' run and turns all the way down."

Sitting on children's small plastic toboggans, the four linked together, with Mr Kemp and Danny in front and Helen and Tina behind them.

"Helen's feet must have been resting on the back of mine," Mr Kemp said.

They set off and came over the brow of the hill, already going quite fast, and needed to turn left to avoid a steep slope leading to three-metre drop on to a tree and rocks by a stream.

"In a split second, I thought we were not going to turn and we were out of control. I slipped the sledge from beneath me and I realised we were going over the edge.

"I must have shut my eyes. When I stood up Helen was lying beside me and she must have hit the tree.

"There was a small rock slightly higher than the tree. Tina remembers holding her hands as they went over."

Tina broke her back in the accident, but the inquest heard had made a good recovery.

Essex coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded a verdict of accidental death.

After the inquest Mr Kemp said: "She was a dear, sweet lady. The worst thing is everything she is missing out on, like taking the kiddy to school.

"I still can't believe it has happened."

By Stephen Rawlins

Reporter's e-mail: stephen_rawlins@thisisessex.co.uk

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