Speed rider killed on the Aiguille du Midi

A 48 year old man died on Sunday, following a speed riding accident on the Aiguille du Midi. Friends gave the alert to the PGHm mountain rescue when the Chinese man, who was a Chamonix resident, failed to return home.

The man had been speed riding, that's to say skiing with the aid of a wing to move fast and very close to the mountain, when the accident happened late on Sunday afternoon. The PGHM helicopter was dispatched Monday morning and the victim's body was found at the foot of the north face of the Aiguille Du Midi.

Rescuers believe the man had been speed riding down the face when he must have made a bad move and crashed against the rock face.