The family of a snowboarder who went missing in the Alps have spoken of their heartache after his body was finally found three weeks later . Steven Rollett , 35 , had been snowboarding with friends when he became stuck in a 'basin ' of deep snow . Before his friends had a chance to return with help , he had disappeared without a trace . The much-loved father , whose wife Nicola is 30 weeks pregnant , was found dead three weeks after going missing in Meribel , in France . 'He 's left a hole in my heart that will never be filled ' : Steven Rollett pictured with his wife Nicola on their wedding day . Mr Rollett died after going missing while snowboarding in the French Alps last month . Now Stephen 's wife has spoken of the 'most wonderful and amazing person ' who will 'live forever ' through their unborn daughter . Nicola said : 'He was my whole world and my life will never be the same without him . 'He was the most wonderful and amazing person I have ever known and he will live on forever in his daughter I carry . 'He 's left a hole in my heart that will never be filled . RIP my beautiful husband , I will love you always . ' Steven , of Chesterfield , Derbyshire , arrived at the ski resort on Saturday , January 31 , with friends . They enjoyed an afternoon of snowboarding before three of them including Steven began using a popular off-piste slope . His heartbroken parents David , 59 , and Barbara Rollett , 57 , told how Steven veered into an area which was like a basin of snow and became stuck . The family had to endure an horrendous wait before Steven 's body was discovered on February 23 . Steven and Nicola Rollett pictured with his son Bradley Annetts from a previous relationship at their wedding . Barbara Rollett said : 'We 're devastated . Nicola has lost her soul-mate . She is absolutely gutted . She 's trying to be strong because she 's got to look after their baby . 'While they were still looking for Steve she was harbouring hopes of him still being found alive . Now we will have to do what we can for Steve and Nicola and our grandchildren . 'Our focus is on looking after Nicola , with her parents who have been very good . 'Steve and Nicola 's new baby girl will be the light at the end of the tunnel . Steve was so excited about haying a baby daughter and in a way he can live on through her and we take comfort from that . ' Steven , who also has a 14-year-old son from a previous relationship , disappeared after friends tried to get help . Mr Rollett said : 'There were others using the slope and there was nothing to indicate it was dangerous . 'Steve veered off to an area which was like a basin and it was full of a lot of snow and he became stuck and could n't get out . Mr Rollett was found dead three weeks after going missing in the resort of Meribel ( above ) in France . 'His friends could see him and were talking to him but he was on an uphill slope and he was struggling to get out . 'They went to get help and by this time the resort was coming to a standstill but they kept the ski slopes open to allow the boys to go back to pinpoint where he was to rescuers but by this time he had disappeared . ' Despite a three-hour search , the resort 's security team , a mountain rescue team and a helicopter could not find Steven as snow came in over Saturday , January 31 , and Sunday , February 1 . One of Steven 's friends alerted his family while his parents were in Spain and David and his brother Ray got flights to France by Monday , February 2 . Mr Rollett added : 'We were beside ourselves . By 5pm the same day , mountain rescue people came and told us there was no sign Steve would be found alive after he had been missing two days and it was a case of waiting to see if his body turned up . ' Mr Rollett added : 'We received the peace of knowing he had been found and I believe he died from hypothermia . 'The chalet managers had been very supportive and the rescuers had done all they could and did n't leave a stone unturned . So we 're very grateful for everything they did . ' A funeral is expected this month on a date to be fixed . Those awaiting details can contact Wetton Funeral Service on 01246 232966 . Steven also leaves a son Bradley Annetts , sister Louise Biggs , brother-in-law Gavin Biggs , two nieces and a nephew .
Steven Rollett , 35 , disappeared while snowboarding off-piste in Meribel . Body was found three weeks later after apparently dying of hypothermia . Comment: