The pair were part of a group of four skiing off-piste under the supervision of an instructor when they were swept away by an avalanche. Rescue services found the bodies of the two UK nationals in a stream 400 metres down the Manchet valley. Another skier, a French national, who was skiing solo above the group also lost their life. 

Mr Leslie was a sales and marketing director for Barratt Redrow construction company, while Mr Overy ran a plumbing business in Wimbledon, southwest London.  

Mr Leslie is believed to have been an experienced skier and a fan of off-piste tracks. 

In a tribute shared on social media, his friend Craig Hunter said: “We have lost a true legend – our beautiful Stuart.”

He also said: “He lived life to the absolute maximum — he packed 10 men’s lives into one. He squeezed everything out of every moment. We shared endless laughs, unforgettable memories and our dreams that were coming reality. 

“We ate like kings, danced like no one was watching, built businesses, shared Barcelona, the UK, France, Dubai.” 

A manslaughter investigation, led by the CRS Alpes mountain rescue police, has been launched, in accordance with routine procedure whenever a fatal skiing accident occurs.

The avalanche happened after Storm Nils battered the region with fresh snow, with authorities describing the pile-up as a "very unstable snow cover".  

Val d’Isère’s piste director Cédric Bonnevie said it was unclear whast had caused the avalanche.