On May 10, a French skier in his 50s died after falling over 300m in the Couloir des Cosmiques, a steep and dangerous ski route near Chamonix, France, in the Mont Blanc massif.
This area is known for tough skiing, graded 5.1, E3, D+, S5, and is popular among very experienced skiers. However, a fall can be fatal.
At 9:20 am, the Chamonix PGHM rescue team (Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne) received an alert, according to Le Dauphine. The rescuers helicoptered from their base in Les Bois, reaching the site minutes later. The slope was too steep to land, so rescuers were lowered to the skier. They tried to revive the man, but he had died. They then airlifted out his body. The skier’s name was not released.
That day was busy for the PGHM, with six rescues. In the Capucin Couloir, another skier broke his leg and was evacuated. On the North Face of Mont Blanc du Tacul, a skier caused an avalanche that swept away others. The PGHM rescued the people and took them to the hospital.
