Isabella Bolton was one of two skiers who died in the avalance (Pictures: Hokkaido Broadcasting Co Ltd/Facebook)
A 21-year-old skier from Watford has been killed in an avalanche on a Japanese volcano.
Isabella Bolton died alongside a man in his thirties from New Zealand, while another New Zealander was injured in the same incident.
They had been among a group of six backcountry skiing on Mount Yōtei, an active volcano in the south-east of Hokkaido when the disaster struck on Monday morning.
The two victims were buried in the snow, according to winter sports website Snow Brains, and both were pronounced dead after arriving at hospital in an unresponsive state.
Though born in England, Isabella grew up on the outskirts of Christchurch in New Zealand, and later worked on ski slopes around the world.
In a statement provided to the NZ Herald, her family said: ‘It is with a heavy heart that we confirm the passing of our beloved Isabella Bolton, 21, in an avalanche accident in Hokkaido, Japan on Monday 11th March.
‘Born in Watford, England, Isabella grew up in Diamond Harbour and Heathcote Valley, attending Rangi Ruru Girls High School.
‘Isabella was full of vitality and passion for life.
‘Her adventurous spirit and love for skiing and the outdoors led her to study for a Diploma in Outdoor Adventure Guiding in Banff, Canada.’
Isabella Bolton had travelled widely before her death in Japan
The statement said Isabella had travelled to Japan in November last year and was working as a ski guide based in Niseko, a small town in the shadow of Mount Yōtei.
A spokesperson for New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade told the Herald: ‘Following the avalanche, Japanese police have confirmed that two New Zealanders have sadly passed away.
‘The New Zealand Embassy has offered consular support to the families of those involved.’
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According to the Japanese Society of Snow and Ice, the incident was caused by a layer of fresh snow coming loose, with the resulting ‘surface avalanche’ measuring around two kilometres long and 20 metres wide.
The section of mountain visited by the group had reportedly not been prepared as a skiing area.
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