Five French climbers die in Alps avalanche

© vincenam
The bodies of five French mountaineers killed by an avalanche in Italy's northwestern Alps have been found, rescuers say.

The group was hit by the avalanche on Wednesday in the Gran Paradiso National Park, near the French border. The expedition was at an altitude of some 2,500m (8,000ft) when the avalanche struck.

The group's French guide was pulled from the snow after being spotted by a helicopter on Wednesday night. He is being treated in hospital in the nearby town of Aosta.

The bodies of the five climbers were found at the bottom of a gorge, according to rescue officials who said they had been dragged down some 150m (500ft) by the force of the avalanche.

Full story at news.bbc.co.uk


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1 May, 2008
AP: Rescuers say they have found the bodies of five French ski-mountaineers who had been missing since they were swept away by an avalanche during an excursion in Italy's northwestern Alps. Officials in the city of Aosta say the bodies were found early Thursday after a suspension of the search Wednesday because of darkness.
1 May, 2008
The accident has happened on the Piedmont (Turin) side of Gran Paradiso, near the Col the Nivolet, precisely at Punta Basei, it's a easy and popular ski mountaineering hike. It was not a "regular" avalanche - all five probably happened to pass over a big "corniche" that suddenly collapsed, and triggered an avalanche below. The bodies has been found and recovered by the Piedmont mountain rescue. The sixth member of the group (their guide) has been found alive by the VdA Rescue, as he was unharmed but disoriented. Over the area there was a huge storm, and the avalanche risk was "4", very high. Search was triggered by the Nivolet hut warden, who had not seen the group come back in the afternoon. The bodies are now on Ceresole. The identities of the five climbers (all french) has not been yet released, so I guess their families have not been contacted yet. If anyone reading this is worried about friends/relatives in the area, they should contact the Ceresole rescue (+39) 347 29.84.160, or the Aosta rescue (+39) 0165 238222
1 May, 2008
I know that risk of death is something we have to accept when we venture into the mountains, but it's still tragic when it happens. Very sad news.
3 May, 2008
4 May, 2008
Do you know who the French guide is?
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