Robert Fechtner said he was having "the best day's skiing ever" seconds before he was swept to his death.

The 19-year-old was killed in an avalanche as he skied a notorious off-piste run in the French Alps. His brothers James, 25, and Thomas, 21, who were on a two-week skiing holiday with Robert, watched ambulances and a helicopter race to the scene in Val d'Isere, unaware he was involved.

Today his family paid tribute to a teenager they describe as full of life and "a breath of fresh air". Robert, an experienced skier, was working during a gap year before going to university to study for a career in the hotel and catering industry.

He had been working as a waiter and cleaner at the Hotel Champs Avalins in La Daille, run by Crawley-based travel firm First Choice Ski Popular. His mother Victoria, 56, is being comforted by James and Thomas at the family home in Rochester Gardens, Hove.

She said: "He was the most popular student at school. He had so much time for others and used to help the younger children who had problems. He was into everything, enjoying all the pranks and scrapes active youngsters are involved in. He was full of life and I don't think there was anyone who had a bad word to say about him."

Thomas described how the brothers watched the avalanche on the off-piste run but had no idea Robert was involved and returned to the hotel expecting to see him there. Mountain rescue experts reached Robert within 30 minutes of the accident, which happened at 3pm British time on Saturday, but it was already too late.

Thomas said: "Robert was skiing off-piste with a friend. His friend had just gone down the slope and Robert had stopped to put his ski back on because it had come loose. The avalanche caught him completely by surprise and the doctor said he died instantly. There was nothing he could have done to get out of the way."

James said: "When we got back to the hotel the manager took us into his office and told us what had happened. The staff and everyone there were distraught. He was very popular, a hard worker and the life and soul of Val d'Isere. When we went out with him it was like everyone knew him and wanted to say hello and talk to him."

He said Robert had struck up friendships with a number of girls and spent his time working, partying and skiing. He added: "The friend who was with him when he died said just before the accident he had said he was having the best day's skiing ever."

Brighton University student Nic Santi, 19, Robert's best friend, said: "He was like a breath of fresh air. He had so many friends. He'll live in all our memories forever."

All three brothers were born in South Africa and they lived there until Mrs Fechtner decided to return to Hove, where she was born, in 1984. They all went to Hurstpierpoint College but Robert left to go to St Bede's Upper School at Hailsham when he was 13. Although he was dyslexic he went on to pass his GCSEs and A-levels and was offered places at four universities, including Oxford.

Today staff and students at the school paid tribute to Robert. Deputy head Andrew Fleck said: "He touched all our lives with the size and generosity of his heart."

Robert's body, which is in a Swiss chapel, has yet to be released by the authorities for return to the UK. The death certificate was being drawn up yesterday, a spokesman said.

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