Body of man killed in Alps to be flown home today
Michael Clifford, 32, died after he was struck by a slab of falling ice.
He lived in Switzerland for a number of years where he built up a highly successful career in the financial services sector.
Mr Clifford is a first cousin of Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Niall Collins.
He was a graduate of UCC.
Mr Clifford was brought up in Ballyagran, near the Cork-Limerick border, and his father David was a secondary school teacher at the Salesian College in Pallaskenry.
The family ran the local post office in Ballyagran.
When Mr Clifford’s father retired, the family moved to Wilton Gardens in Cork.
Mr Clifford is also survived by his mother Patricia; sister Eleanor and brothers David, William, and Patrick. Two of his siblings returned from New Zealand and Australia in recent days, where they now live.
His uncle, Sean Collins, said: “Michael graduated from UCC and was working as a risk analyst in merchant banking in Zurich.
“He was very involved in outdoor sports and was an experienced skier and rock climber. His girlfriend, who is Italian, had gone home to Milan for a few days over Christmas and Michael went out skiing. It appears he was skiing off-piste when he was struck by slab of ice about three metres in width. It was like a chunk of rock which came loose.”
Arrangements were being finalised to have Mr Clifford’s remains flown to Cork today.
His funeral is expected to take place on Friday to Coleman’s Well cemetery in Co Limerick.
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