Meribel, France – A 17-year-old Briton died on Wednesday while skiing with a group of friends at the French ski resort of Meribel.

The victim has been identified as Louis Ross, who was attending the Canford School in Wimborne, Dorset. “We are devastated by this shocking news and are doing all we can to support the family during this time. The thoughts and prayers of the entire Canford community are with them,” school officials said in a prepared statement.

Ross was reportedly skiing a blue run at an unsafe speed when he crashed into the slope, sustaining head and chest injuries despite wearing a helmet, according to rescuers. The Savoyard resort, part of the 3 Valleys complex, has not seen fresh snowfall in weeks, and local police in part attribute the firmness of the snow on the run for Ross’ death.

Ross went into cardiac arrest at the scene, and could not be resuscitated.