Cian O’Brien dies in fatal French Alps skiing trip incident

Cian O’Brien dies in fatal French Alps skiing trip incident

Fatal French Alps skiing trip death of Cian O’Brien – Obituary

Cian O’Brien, a 20-year-old from Gleann na Rí in Tower near Blarney, Cork, died while on a skiing holiday in the French Alps, leaving his family and community in deep mourning.

Cian O’Brien was traveling in France with a group of friends affiliated with the Cork Snow Sports Society when he became unwell on Sunday night at the ski resort of Alpe d’Huez. After spending the evening socializing, he went to bed, but his friends were unable to wake him the following morning and alerted emergency services.

Local emergency responders attended the scene but were unable to revive him, and he was pronounced dead by a local doctor. A postmortem examination has been scheduled to determine the exact cause of death.

At the time of his passing, O’Brien was working as an electrical apprentice with a pharmaceutical company in Cork. He had previously attended Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal in Blarney and was actively involved in local sports, playing with both Blarney United soccer club and Blarney GAA club. His father had also been closely involved with Blarney United as a coach.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular support to the family, while the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust is assisting with arrangements to return his remains to Ireland. His parents had only recently returned home from a holiday abroad when they received the devastating news.

Members of the Tower and Blarney communities have described Cian as well known, well liked, and deeply popular among his peers, with many expressing shock and sadness at his sudden death.