THE family of a Wiltshire child who died following a skiing accident in Austria at the weekend have described her as a fearless youngster who “lived every day as if there might be no tomorrow.”

Jemima Prees, 10, from Colerne suffered major head injuries when she ran off the piste and into woodland while on a half-term holiday with her family in the Austrian Tyrol.

Her brother made heroic efforts to resuscitate her and she was airlifted to hospital, but she died later.

In a tribute released through Wiltshire Police, her family talked of a very special girl with a capacity to touch people with love.

“It was a privilege to know her for nearly eleven years,” said the statement.

“She was quirky, intelligent, fearless, but most of all, always warm and amusing. Everyone loved her. We were so lucky to have shared so much time with her.

She died in a beautiful place doing something she loved, with some of her favourite people.

“She was skiing within her ability and taking it very carefully, within yards of us. No one will know why she suddenly went straight down the piste or why she didn't turn or fall.

“After a hundred yards, she hit trees at a high speed. She died instantly at the scene from a major brain injury but her brother's heroic forty minutes of resuscitation enabled her organs to be donated to save or transform four people's lives.

"We are very proud of him, as we were proud of her. We would now like to be given the space to grieve as a family, and to attempt to begin rebuilding our lives."