Girl hid under bodies to survive French Alps shootings

A four-year-old girl was discovered inside a British-registered car amid a massacre with three fatalities...

15:46 06 September 2012

Two women and a male - all of whom are believed British - were discovered shot dead in the French Alps on Thursday. It has now been revealed that a four-year-old girl hid under their bodies to save herself from the shooter. 

 

The girl was discovered hiding in the British-registered BMW in which three bodies were found eight hours earlier. 

 

The shooting near Lake Annecy in the French Alps also left a cyclist dead nearby. In addition, a second girl was found lying on the road. She is said to be critical condition. 

 

Police have confirmed that the driver of the BMW was British and speculated that all of those within the car were a family on holiday. 

 

As of Thursday morning, the FCO (British Foreign Office) is still attempting to establish the identities of all of the victims. 

 

Prosecutor Eric Maillaud was quoted by the BBC talking about the little girl who spoke English after being found under the legs of one of the women. 

 

He said: "She was hidden under the bodies for some eight hours and didn't move for the whole time.

 

"The little girl spoke English. She had heard the noises, the cries, but she couldn't say more - she is only four years old." 

 

15 spent cartridges from an automatic pistol were uncovered at the crime scene which has now been sealed off by local police who have started a 'multiple murder' investigation. 

 

Head of the investigation, Benoit Vinnemann, said: "The three bodies found in the car appear to be the father, mother and grandmother.

 

"It is in any case a family, according to British people at the Saint Jorioz camping site who reported their disappearance on Wednesday night."