Two french climbers missing since Monday, 05 Aug 2013 died on the Italian side of the Mont-Blanc. Their bodies were found on Fri 9 Aug 2013 at an altitude of 3200m, below The Point Baretti (4012m).
François Deffert 53, a High Mountain Guide and his companion Xavier Chambet 34, a Mountain Bike instructor were both members of the Bureau de la Montagne du Salève.
The bad weather cleared on Fri 9 Aug 2013 permitting the helicopter search to resume. Their bodies were located and identified by the Mountain Rescue Team of Aosta Valley.
It appears that the climbers aborted their attempt to summit Mont-Blanc after a successful traverse of the Brouillard Arete (4069m). They decided to return to the Aosta Valey via Point Baretti (4012m) but, some distance short of the Point, they fell from the arete.
It is estimated they fell 600m. Their bodies have been evacuated to Courmayeur.
