Shock as Popular Surgeon Falls From High Mountain to His Death During Skiing Trip With His Two Sons

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Shock as Popular Surgeon Falls From High Mountain to His Death During Skiing Trip With His Two Sons

William Choi, a top British surgeon died when he plunged nearly 500ft off a mountain during a skiing trip with his two sons - seven years after the boys' mother passed away.

According to Daily Mail, Mr Choi was on holiday at the French alpine resort of La Plagne with the boys and his partner Abbey and her daughter, when he fell to his death.

The 48-year-old, known as Bill, a consultant urologist at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent, was skiing off-piste when the accident happened.

Abbey said this week that it was 'especially difficult' for Mr Choi's two sons, who lost their mother Debbie seven years ago.

A spokesman for the local mountain police said Mr Choi, an experienced skiier, was with a guide and a group of other tourists when he fell around 500ft, into an 'abyss'.

He said: 'He fell 150 metres down an abyss and hit rocks. Paramedics tried to save him but he was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation is now underway.'

Mr Choi, who lived in Littlebourne, near Canterbury, Kent, was not skiing with his family at the time of the accident on March 21.

His family have now returned home and his body has been repatriated ahead of his funeral later this month.

Abbey told the Kentish Gazette today: 'Bill was a very experienced skier and always wore a helmet and didn't take risks. We were in different groups and I just got a phone call asking me to return to the hotel because Bill had a fall.
'My first thought was that he might have broken a leg, but he died from head injuries. It is devastating, particularly for the boys, whose mother Debbie died seven years ago.
'Bill was such a lovely man who would help anyone. We have had so many messages of sympathy and comfort and would like to thank everyone for their support, love and kindness.'

Mr Choi was the lead urology surgeon for renal cancer in the East Kent Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust and specialised in reverse vasectomies and prostate cancer surgery.

He was vice-chairman for the Renal Cancer Service and the chairman of Laparoscopic Urological Surgery for the Kent Cancer Network.

Dr Paul Stevens, of East Kent Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'He always wore a smile, worked with a great sense of humour and would readily chat with all staff in a relaxed way.
'He was able to perform a serious job but would never take himself too seriously.'