He was one of three who died in the crash.
An Irish man, who died in a helicopter crash in the Swiss Alps, has been named as James Goff.
Goff, in his 30s, was from Co. Dublin and was killed on Tuesday morning when the B3-type helicopter he was travelling in crashed at the Petit Combin mountain landing site during a drop-off.
James, also known as Jimmy, was the son of Robert and Sheelagh Goff, the owners of the 19th-century Ballinacor Estate in Rathdrum, Co Wicklow.
The victim’s sister Sarah Davis-Goff is a well-known author and the co-founder of publishing house Tramp Press.
Goff had studied in the UK before returning to Dublin to earn a degree in Technological University Dublin. He then spent a number of years working for the United Nations in Zimbabwe and Lebanon.
He was also a qualified ski instructor.
Guide Adam George and pilot Jerome Lovey also died in the horrific incident and it’s been reported that three British skiers survived after jumping out of the helicopter.
Rescue helicopters responded to the crash but the three people still on board were found dead.
While the exact cause of the crash remains unknown, eyewitnesses have claimed that the helicopter was swept up in an avalanche as it went down the mountain.
Locals did suggest, however, that conditions on Tuesday were ideal with little wind that could have affected the helicopter’s journey.
Valais Regional Police said in a statement: “Having reached the summit of a mountain culminating at 3,668 metres above sea level, for a reason that the investigation will have to determine, the aircraft slid down the northern slope.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs has said that it was aware of the incident, and was ready to provide the man’s family with consular assistance.
Authorities in Switzerland have opened an investigation into the accident to try to determine the cause of the incident.
The tourists along with their guide had planned to go heli-skiing which is a form of ski-ing which involves taking a helicopter ride to the top of a mountain before setting off.
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