AN inquest has opened into the death of Brecon schoolboy Carwyn Scott-Howell who fell off a cliff in the Alps on a family ski holiday.

A coroner's court was told the seven-year-old, died from multiple injuries 'consistent with a fall from a height'.

Carwyn was discovered on a cliff ledge by a search helicopter - and heartbroken mother Ceri Scott-Howell, 44, identified her son's body later in a French hospital.

The inquest into the death in the resort of Flaine, in the French Alps, was opened and adjourned so Carwyn's body could be released for his funeral.

The coroner's court in Newport, South Wales, was told Carwyn became separated from his family on the slopes before he plunged over a 160ft cliff.

Detective Constable Jon Lewis of Gwent Police told the short hearing: "On April 10, 2015 in Flaine, France, Carwyn became separated from his family.

"Emergency services attended and Carwyn's body was found on the ledge. His mother formerly identified him."

Consultant pathologist Dr Geraint Evans carried out a post mortem examination of Carwyn and said his injuries were consistent with 'a fall from a height' and were sufficient to account for his death.

Deputy Coroner Wendy James adjourned the inquest until June 22 and released Carwyn's body for funeral purposes.

She said: "In light of evidence I have heard I am proposing to adjourn the inquest until June 22 to allow inquiries to be completed.

"I release Carwyn's body for funeral purposes."

Carwyn's family at Talybont-on-Usk, near Brecon, did not attend the short five minute hearing.

They will now be able to hold the funeral for a boy they described as a "daring, outgoing, determined little boy""

Little Carwyn was a "very competent skier and snowboarder" who learned to ski at the age of three and had been out on the slopes with his mum and sister just before the tragic accident.

His sister Antonia, nine, "lost her ski on a jump" and while mum Ceri went to check on her, Carwyn skied on ahead.

The family raised the alarm when he failed to appear at the bottom of the slope.

A search team found little Carwyn's ski's left at the top of the cliff in an 'out-of-bounds' area in Flaine, 38 miles north west of Chamonix.

A helicopter had to be called in to retrieve his body from the bottom of the 160ft cliff.

A family statement after his death said: "The family were all enjoying their last ski run over the small jumps and bumps at the side of the slope together, when Carwyn's sister lost her ski on a jump and at this point Carwyn skied ahead.

"The family cannot explain their feeling of utter devastation with a vast void in their hearts."

Carwyn was used to being out in the open air after growing up on the family's farm at Talybont.

The statement added: "Carwyn was an adorable caring person who gave so much love.

"He was a very daring outgoing determined little boy whose handsome smile lit up any room and made life full of laughter with never a dull moment.

"Seven years is too short a time to be an angel in the sky.