Tuesday, 15 July 2014: on the Gouter Route to the summit of Mont-Blanc a 45-year-old German climber plunged to his death.
Two friends were attempting to summit Mont Blanc on the classic Gouter Route, which is popular among alpinists and mountaineers.
While traversing the infamous Grand Couloir, AKA: Death Gully, at an altitude of 3400m, the victim lost his footing and fell an estimated 300m down the couloir.
The PGHM Chamonix was alerted at about 5am by his climbing partner. A helicopter was dispatched and arrived at the scene within minutes. In the fall, the climber had suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was recovered to Chamonix.
As is standard procedure for the Chamonix PGHM, the name of the victim has not been released to the press and an investigation has been opened.
