Updated: A TALENTED former pupil from Bootham School in York has died in an accident at a French ski resort.

Edward De Nunzio, 18, of Tadcaster, was killed in the early hours of Saturday morning in what is believed to have been a 16ft fall from a chalet roof, in the Alpine ski resort of Courchevel, pictured.

Last night, Edward’s family said it was with “profound regret” that they confirmed the death of their son. His father, Tony De Nunzio, a former Asda chief executive, said: “We are absolutely devastated by this tragedy. Edward was in Courchevel enjoying a three-month ski instructor course. He was a hugely talented young man with a bright future and we are overwhelmed by what has happened.”

French police are currently carrying out investigations into the cause of the accident, though reports in national media said he may have attempted to jump from one chalet roof to another.

Edward, who attended Bootham School and the Minster School in York, achieved three As and two A*s at A-level.

He had planned to do voluntary work in Peru and travel around South America later this year, before starting a geography degree at University College London in October.

As news of the teenager’s death reached those who knew him in the UK, his former head teacher at Bootham School, Jonathan Taylor, described him as “enormously talented” and said that Edward “combined academic ability with personal charm”.

He said: “He studied geography, art, economics and biology, and was due to study geography at UCL next year.

“But beyond these, Ed was a young man of huge capability. He took part in school drama productions as an actor; he was an elected member of the school council; he was a delegate at the student earth summit; he enjoyed travelling and skiing.

“Ed had a gift for friendship; he was sociable and very good fun. It would be hard to overstate how impressive a young man he was. His friends, his teachers, and the whole Bootham community will be deeply saddened by the news of his death.”

Mr De Nunzio, who has flown out to France, is currently non-executive director of Boots, non-executive chairman of Pets At Home and executive chairman of Maxeda, a large retailer in the Netherlands.

Edward’s death comes in the same week that another Tadcaster resident, 25-year-old Greg Tobin, was confirmed as one of two British people killed in the recent New Zealand earthquake.