British Students Among Victims of Food Poisoning Outbreak at French Ski Resort
A severe outbreak of gastroenteritis has affected nearly 200 children at a French ski resort, with British private school students among those impacted. The incident occurred at the UCPA residence in Plagne 1800, located in the Savoie region. According to local media reports, at least 197 children fell ill on Tuesday, displaying symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea.
The group includes students from a private co-educational school in the UK, though the exact number of affected British students remains unclear. Alongside them, children from Canada, France, and Belgium have also been reported to be unwell. The situation has been described by some as an “apocalyptic” outbreak, with authorities scrambling to manage the crisis.
In addition to the children, at least five teachers and several other staff members have shown symptoms of the illness. Those affected are receiving treatment at the centre, with some students placed on IV drips. Authorities have transformed the hotel into a makeshift hospital ward to accommodate the growing number of sick individuals.
Currently, there are 409 children and 30 accompanying adults staying at the UCPA facility, which is known for hosting summer camps and school ski trips. Firefighters were mobilised to assist with the evacuation, while several doctors were also dispatched to the scene.
Mayor Jean-Luc Boch confirmed that the incident appears to be a “severe case of gastroenteritis spreading among the children.” He added that authorities are awaiting advice from the Regional Health Authority before making any decisions about potential lockdowns or closures.
Repeated Incidents at the UCPA Facility
According to several witnesses, this is not the first time that cases of gastroenteritis have been reported at the UCPA establishment in La Plagne 1800. Steeve, the head of sports at a French high school, revealed that his students had previously fallen ill at the holiday centre.
Speaking to local news outlet Le Dauphine, he said: “Back in January, when we came, fifteen kids got sick during their stay. And now it’s happening again. We’re so frustrated!”
He further explained that the UCPA management has blamed the school for bringing the disease home. However, he pointed out that the school always takes precautions, such as bringing masks and disinfecting door handles, to mitigate risks associated with group travel.
Steeve added, “We’re used to all this. Just yesterday at 4.30pm, a child vomited before even getting on the chairlift. We had to take him back to the UCPA, and there were already other kids who were sick.”
He expressed disappointment over the impact on the students, many of whom look forward to these trips. “These are trips to the biggest resorts in the world that all these kids look forward to, and some of them have never even skied in their lives. Now, everything’s ruined,” he said.
Additional Tragedy in the Area
The incident in the French Alps comes after a tragic event involving a British snowboarder. A 43-year-old man died after plunging 330 feet from a rocky ledge in an off-piste area nearby.
A ski patrol at La Plagne was first alerted to the disappearance of the man on Saturday. An initial investigation established that he had last been seen using the ski lifts in the Bécoin area.
An alpinist in the area reported a grim discovery to mountain rescue after finding a victim off-piste. Ski patrollers, alongside the mountain rescue team from the Modane centre, rushed to the scene. Despite their efforts, the man in his forties did not survive. His body was evacuated by helicopter.
Authorities have opened an investigation to determine the exact cause of death.
