Three more die on Mont Blanc slopes
Death toll on Europe’s highest mountain continues to mount, while two basejumpers also die in Alpine accidents
THREE more climbers died on Mont Blanc at the weekend.
The two holidaying climbers from Paris and their experienced local guide were reported missing on Saturday.
Their bodies were found last night near the 3,842m Aiguille du Midi peak, police said. It is thought they had fallen 800m.
An investigation has been launched, but at this stage police believe an overhang of snow may have given way along a ridge the climbers may have used to return to a refuge hut.
The latest tragedy comes days after six climbers fell to their deaths on the Aiguille d'Argentiere.
The bodies of two mountaineers were found on August 2, and a further six climbers died between July 15 and 30.
About 30,000 climbing parties set out to climb the massifs peaks every year - many between June and September.
Elsewhere, two base jumpers died in separate incidents in Alps yesterday.
A 33-year-old Australian died after jumping off the 2,600m Brevent peak in the Haute-Savoie.
Two hours later an experienced 52-year-old French basejumper was killed in a jump on Mont Granier in the neighbouring Isere region.
The death-toll from the extreme sport this summer in France now stands at four.
Photo: Cristian Bortes
