A grieving partner has paid tribute to her “kind and continuously positive” boyfriend who died unexpectedly on ski slopes.

Mitchell Hopkins, 35, passed away on December 10, 2024, while skiing in France.

The avid skier and Southampton personal trainer was returning to La Tania ski resort in Courchevel when he died.

His devoted girlfriend, Michaela Birch, has now paid tribute to him and remembered the time they spent travelling the world together.

Mitchell Hopkins with Michaela BirchMitchell Hopkins with Michaela Birch (Image: Abi Hopkins)

She said: “We met seven years ago but got together during lockdown in 2020.

“In May of last year, we bought a camper van, and that’s the home we had together.

“He was building some drawers for it about two days before he died, so I still have his fingerprints in the sawdust.”

Their relationship was a whirlwind, with the pair jetting off travelling the world only months after getting together.

From driving across Europe to doing two seasons at La Tania ski resort, the pair made countless memories together.

Michaela said: “We did a Europe road trip for six months, looked after a Corgi in Dubai, and stayed in Amsterdam, which he loved.

“In Southampton, Mitch was a personal trainer and worked at two branches of The Gym Group.

“He also worked at the Orange Rooms, Vodka Revolution and other bars.

“Mitch had a massive impact on people and he had so many friends.

“I was obsessed with him. He was gorgeous, funny, and so kind, and always continuously positive.

“We had no plans for this year; it was a blank page we were going to work out together.”

Mitchell HopkinsMitchell Hopkins (Image: Abi Hopkins)

Mitchell grew up in Midanbury and attended Beechwood Primary School and Bitterne Park Secondary School, before attending Richard Taunton College.

He then studied at Solent University.

His younger sister Abi Hopkins said they did everything together.

She said: “There was only 17 months between us, so we were best mates.

“He taught me how to run and how to ski, and he did everything and more that a big brother should do.

“Mitch wanted to make everyone happy.”

To honour his memory, Abi has launched a fundraiser to help a charity close to Mitchell’s heart - Jadon’s fight against Leukaemia.

Visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/donation-in-memory-of-mitch-hopkins to support the fundraiser.

His cause of death is to be confirmed.