A DEPUTY coroner has questioned safety instruction at a French holiday resort after a woman died when she lost control of her snow mobile.

Sharon Stacey, 35, who had been planning to move to Wareham with her family, received multiple injuries after colliding with a metal pole in Avoriaz, France, on February 21.

Mrs Stacey, husband Douglas and her son Kalon, eight, had booked an excursion with company Snow Range which took groups of holidaymakers on guided snowmobile treks.

The Bournemouth inquest heard that Mrs Stacey rode a snowmobile solo while her husband and son rode together.

Other members of the party observed that Mrs Stacey was going much slower than everybody else shortly before the accident near a tunnel.

Mr Stacey told the inquest that he lost sight of his wife and the alarm was raised when a man came running towards them waving his arms and shouting.

He added: "As I approached the area I could see Sharon lying on her back in the snow near a metal pole. The snowmobile was entangled in the netting and her helmet was off."

Instructor Stefan Heritier said in a statement: "I remember this tourist completely because she was a little bit hesitant.

"The accident occurred five minutes after setting off. I saw the woman surprised by the direction of her path and (she) turned her handlebars to the left. I saw the snowmobile accelerate rapidly as she tried to turn." Mrs Stacey was thrown from the machine, he added.

The Froggatt family, who were also on the excursion, also expressed concerns about the safety instruction given prior to the excursion.

"There was no discussion of prior experience and no checking that helmets were the correct size or that straps were properly fitted," they said.

Mrs Stacey of Southampton, died despite the efforts of French paramedics and has since been buried at Wareham.

Deputy coroner Jonathan Morrissey recorded a verdict of death as a result of an accident. He said: "I do express concern that a powerful machine of this nature can be ridden by a driver who has had five minutes' instruction and no practice whatsoever."