Phil Tate was with his partner and two friends on an off-piste route in the Mont Blanc range above Chamonix when the accident happened on Sunday morning.

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They were about three-quarters of the way down the Valle Blanche - or 'White Valley' - when they reached a flat segment of the 13-mile route.

Mr Tate's partner, Kristine Grimshaw, and their friends were on skis and so were able to 'pole' themselves across the terrain.

The 32-year-old, however, was on a snowboard and climbed off, intending to tackle that section of the route on foot.

As he stepped off, however, the snow and ice beneath him suddenly gave way, sending him tumbling into a previously-unseen crevasse.

Mr Tate is thought to have been killed instantly by his fall.

However, it took mountain rescue team several hours to recover his body as it was buried beneath snow and ice blocks.

The accident was witnessed by Ms Grimshaw and the couple's two friends.

Today tributes to Mr Tate were led by colleagues at Leeds-based private equity house Endless LLP, where he worked as an investment director.

Managing partner Garry Wilson said: "He had a unique combination of qualities and gifts that made him stand out both in the business world and in his personal life.

"His talent, ability, integrity and tenacity were always evident and remarked upon by many.

"He had not only a terrific sense of humour, but also genuine charm, warmth and a passion for life that was infectious.

"This is a tragic loss on so many levels."

Former Leeds Grammar School pupil Mr Tate worked at Ernst & Young and Arthur Andersen prior to joining Endless in early 2006.

He was an experienced snowboarder.

A spokesman for the mountain police in Chamonix said today: "It is a difficult area to ski or snowboard because it is on the glacier and there are a lot of crevasses.

"We rescued another man last week who fell the same distance but he survived.

"It depends on how you fall and the type of crevasse it is."