The bereaved widow of a man who died after falling to his death while skiing close to the upscale resort of Chamonix in the French Alps has paid homage to her late spouse.
Mike Rowell, 34, lost his footing when removing his skis after becoming trapped while navigating an off-piste area of the mountain.
On March 12 of this year, the chartered accountant and his buddy Niall Jones were skiing when they ran out of ski trails and had to halt.
Mr. Rowell disappeared while trying to find a secure way down, and it is thought that he died after falling 80 feet.
When they paused to look for a route down, the two were skiing between red and black slopes, which are color-coded to indicate difficulty.
When Mr. Jones turned around to go back up the slope, he discovered one ski in the snow but no trace of his companion.
After falling off the cliff, Mr. Rowell was found to have passed away instantaneously.
His wife, Helen Rowell, 34, has paid homage to the “devoted parent, husband, and friend” and spoke about the Farnborough, Hampshire, bereavement support group she started as a result of his demise.
When they were both studying at the University of Durham, the couple first connected soon before turning 20. They reared their 4-year-old son, Alfie, in Hampshire after spending three years living in London.
When someone passes away, Mrs. Rowell remarked, “I always believe it’s easy to put them on a pedestal and ignore their shortcomings.” “To me, Mike was wonderfully imperfect.”
“I believe that when you love someone, you love them for everything about them, and Mike and I sincerely loved one another despite our flaws.
As a person, Mike always exhibited kindness, composure, and warmth. He had a remarkable knack for identifying what was important enough to devote his attention to, leaving the rest to the care of others. He was not in the least bothered with status.
He was able to be professionally satisfied and yet find time for the activities he loved because of his excellent work-life balance.
He was an avid golfer who cherished nothing more than playing 18 holes, followed by a barbecue at home with loved ones. It’s fair to say that he put in a lot of effort, enjoyed himself, and was a kind parent, spouse, and friend.
He was really well-liked and referred to as the focal point for the several groupings he united. Together, we created a remarkable existence.
Following Mr. Rowell’s passing, Helen established Brightest Stars, a support organisation that attempts to assist grieving parents in the neighbourhood as well as their children.
The club has monthly meetings in the St. Peter’s Church Parish Center and offers toys and games for kids while giving parents a place to connect with others who may relate to their struggles.
The workshops are intended for children up to the age of 10 who have lost parents or siblings.
The community initiative now depends on contributions, which are used to fund family outings, essential counselling services, and activities and gifts for children.
Mrs. Rowell said, “Life without Mike is a continual voyage of self discovery for me.”
My first concern has always been our four-year-old son, and I’ve done all in my power to support him and provide him the tools to communicate effectively with me.
“I was surprised by the absence of assistance in our community for me to meet parents in the same situation, and the same was true for kids,” the author said.
It has been a bittersweet undertaking to establish Brightest Stars since I have been driven to locate some chinks of brightness even in the darkest of circumstances.
This is a face-to-face support group for parents and children who have lost a loved one. We want to provide both groups a secure, relaxed setting where they can get to know one another, go on day excursions, and have access to crucial services like counselling, literature, and tools to aid in the grieving process.
“Mike died tragically unaware of the significant influence he had on so many people—a legacy he knew nothing about.
As his wife, I believe Brightest Stars is an appropriate remembrance of him and a means to draw inspiration from a very depressing circumstance.
The cause of Mr. Rowell’s death was determined to be an accident during an inquest earlier this week.
Mr. Rowell and Mr. Jones missed the ski tracks they were pursuing on an off-piste stretch, according to Hampshire coroner Jason Pegg.
They paused to reevaluate, and Mike walked ahead to check for any further runs. Mr. Jones returned up the hill after taking off his skis as they made the decision to go back.
“Mike fell from a considerable height after slipping while taking off his skis,” the witness said.
He died as a result of several severe injuries sustained in a horrific accident. He just underestimated the surroundings.