Tributes to teenage ski lift victim

The teenage girl who died after falling from a ski lift during a school trip to the Italian Alps was "a beautiful girl" who will be "dearly missed", friends said on Twitter.

The 13 year-old girl, named in reports as Poonam Bhattal from Slough, is said to have fallen 16 feet on to the piste in the resort of Claviere yesterday morning.

The schoolgirl was having a ski lessons with classmates from the Guru Nanak Sikh Academy in Hayes, Middlesex, when she boarded the chairlift around 9.30am.

Although Poonam initially survived the fall, she died while on her way to a hospital 25 miles away in Susa, according to Sky News.

Those who knew the girl took to Twitter to pay tribute to her.

One user, @jaskiretxo, said: "Poonam Bhattal a beautiful girl who we were all so lucky to have known, may our thoughts be with Amreeta and her family. RIP beautiful xox".

Another, @TharanVirdi, posted a photo of a girl wearing black-rimmed glasses, and said: "Poonam, You will be dearly missed, thoughts and prayers go out to your family. Waheguru #gonetoosoon #RipPoonam x".

Local police commissioner Francesco Destro told Sky News: "The ski lift was moving very fast and rising fast when she fell." He said he could not recall a similar accident.

Mr Destro added that the girl initially answered questions when officers rushed to her aid but "did not make it".

Police have launched an investigation and are due to question the teenager's classmates, who boarded the lift with her.