28.11.2011 0

Provence & Côte d'Azur: Two hikers found dead after 250 metre fall

Tragic death of two hikers in the Vésubie Valley

Rescue teams have discovered the bodies of two hikers who fell 250 metres from the Grand Capelet Mountains in the Vésubie valley Sunday morning.

Rescue teams have discovered the bodies of two walkers who fell down a 250 metre descent on the Grand Capelet Mountains in the Vésubie valley yesterday morning.
Gordolasque in the Vésubie Valley. Copyright Erikk.

The victims, from Cagnes-sur-Mer, have been identified as 25-year-old physiotherapist Clément Charpentier and 41-year-old Bernard Cabriel, a surveyor. They were hiking the snowy slopes on Saturday morning when the tragedy occurred.

Their companion,  24-year-old François Sabinene, alerted authorities on his mobile phone, prompting an extensive mountain rescue search of the Vésubie valley. He was found yesterday morning and taken to Saint-Roch hospital suffering from hypothermia. A few hours later, a rescue helicopter recovered the two bodies of the male hikers. 

Mayor of NiceChristian Estrosi has expressed his condolences to the families of the victims saying, "I salute the work and courage of all the safety teams who intervened immediately in difficult and dangerous circumstances."

An inquiry into the circumstances of the deaths is underway.

Sarah Lloyd

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