Body found in ski resort snow blower

Investigation launched following grisly discovery in snow-clearing machine at popular resort in Pyrénées-Orientales

THE BODY of a young woman has been found in a snow-blowing machine in the popular Pyrénées-Orientales’ ski resort of Les Angles, police have said.

Officials said an investigation was under way after the driver of the snow-clearing machine made the discovery in the early hours of Friday while investigating the cause of an apparent malfunction, France Bleu Roussillon reports.

The driver did not see anyone at the time of the incident, officials reported.

The victim, who according to reports was originally from Argelès-sur-Mer, was in her 20s and was a seasonal worker at two restaurants in the resort, which lies close to the border with Spain and Andorra.

She had spent part of the previous night at a nearby club.

Jerome Miller, director of Les Angles ski station, said that she had been caught in the snow blower during a routine early morning clearance operation at 5.15am, and added that it was not known whether she was alive or already dead when she was dragged into the machine.

Photo: Ruud Hein