Ellie Soutter was set to compete in the junior world champs in NZ next month and had trained here.
Warning: This article is about suicide and may be distressing for some readers.
The father of a British snowboarder who died on her 18th birthday believes she could have been struggling to cope with the pressures of competing in high-level sport, reports the Daily Mail.
Ellie Soutter, described as a rising star of snow sports, was found dead in a remote woodland near her home in the French Alps in the early hours last week.
Her father, Tony Soutter, said 'she wanted to be the best' and 'not let anybody down'.
'Unfortunately it all came about from missing a flight which then meant she didn't go training with the GB squad,' he told BBC South East.
Ellie Soutter was set to compete in New Zealand next month.
'She felt she'd let them down, felt she'd let me down and just tragically it just takes one silly little thing like that to tip someone over the edge, because there's a lot of pressure on children.'
Discussing his grief, Mr Soutter said he had lost his 'total buddy' and his rock.
Speaking publicly for the first time since her death on July 25, Mr Soutter said his daughter's history of mental health issues, alongside the pressure of competing at an elite level, may have contributed to her ending her life in Les Gets in the French Alps.
Ellie was considered one of British snowboarding's future stars who had high hopes of competing for Team GB in the Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022.
She moved to Les Gets in 2009, attending the local primary school, followed by an international school and then the local college.
By 2015, her sporting commitments meant she was home schooled for the final two years of her education.
Her uncle Jeremy Soutter told MailOnline last week there were 'no signs at all' that his 'chirpy' niece would consider killing herself.
Ellie Soutter was set to compete in the junior world champs in NZ next month and had trained here. Photo / via Instagram
Just weeks ago, on July 8, Tony Soutter announced he was a 'proud dad' as Ellie had been selected to represent the Team GB squad for the Junior World Championships in New Zealand.
On Thursday, her heartbroken father broke the tragic news.
British Ski & Snowboard, the National Governing Body for Skiing & Snowboarding in the UK, led the tributes and urged young people to seek support.
Soutter was a bronze medallist in snowboard cross at the 2017 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival. Photo / via Instagram
The BSS said in a statement: 'Ellie was one of the country's best up-and-coming snowboarders, competing in both snowboard cross and freeride.
'A bronze medallist in snowboard cross at the 2017 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in Erzurum, Turkey, Ellie claimed Team GB's only medal of the event.
'She spent the 2017/18 season competing on the Freeride Junior Tour, but was due to return to snowboard cross competition next month after being selected in the British team for the Junior World Championships in New Zealand. She was an inaugural member of the British Europa Cup snowboard cross programme which commenced earlier this year.
