A British snowboarder suffocated after falling head first into heavy snow in a freak accident, an inquest heard.
Daniel Marsh, 23, slid out of control down a slope off-piste which caused a 'mini avalanche' that then buried him.
He was trapped upside down up to his hips which created a 'stranglehold' he was unable to free himself from.
Mr Marsh was found a short while later by another skier who spotted his board and boots sticking out of the snow.
He rushed to dig him out and attempted CPR on Mr Marsh but without success.
The experienced snowboarder was wearing a safety helmet at the time and a post mortem examination confirmed he suffered no head injuries and died of asphyxia.
An inquest heard Mr Marsh, from Bridport, Dorset, had been working as a commis chef at a hotel in the exclusive French ski resort of Meribel at the time of his death.
The police report said he was found at 2,230m altitude and rescuers had difficulty walking due to the heavy compact nature of the snow.
It said there was no obstacle or violent impact that would have caused the fall and there was no signs of damage to him or his equipment.
But conditions would have made snowboarding difficult and a 'personal technical fault' caused him to slide down an embankment.
The report said the snow conditions were a 'determining factor' in his death, he was 'like a person trapped in an avalanche and very quickly ran out of oxygen'.
Assistant Dorset Coroner Grant Davies told the Bournemouth inquest: "He was found head first, almost vertical, covered up to his hips. It would have been very difficult for him to extract himself.
"The very heavy wet snow created a stranglehold around the victim, trapping him and causing his death by asphyxiation."
Mr Davis recorded a verdict of misadventure.