Shortly before 10am local time on Sunday 14 April 12024, the Chamonix High Mountain Gendarmerie Platoon (PGHM) was alerted to a serious incident on the Aiguille Verte.
A 25-year-old skier had fallen 500 meters while descending the Whymper couloir (route 2on the image). This is one of one of the steepest and most technical ski descents in all of the Mont-Blanc massif.
The young man, originally from Doubs, a department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in Eastern France, was accompanied by a friend of the same age. It was the latter who raised the alarm.
Minutes later, when the PGHM helicopter arrived on location, the skier was pronounced dead at the scene. Both the victim, and his friend, in significant a state of neurogenic shock, were transported in the helicopter back the Bois de Bouchet drop zone.
As is standard policy for a fatal accidents, an investigation was opened. Initial indications for the cause of the fall are not clear. There is no indication of avalanche.
Le Dauphiné