World champion ski mountaineer dies in Mont Blanc record attempt
Stéphane Brosse, triple World champion ski mountaineer dies in Summits of My Life project
Stéphane Brosse, who set off early Saturday to traverse the Mont Blanc massif with fellow ski mountaineer Kilian Jornet, has suffered a fatal fall of 600 metres when a snow cornice collapsed on the Aiguille d'Argentière (3900m).
This traverse from Les Contamines in France and ending in Champex, Switzerland was the first stage in the Summits of My Life project, a four year venture with speed records attempts on six peaks across the globe which was announced just over a month ago.
Setting off at 1am on the 16th of June, Kilian Jornet and Stephane Brosse were accompanied by team members Sebastian Montaz and Bastien Fleury, who were documenting the project. After successfully traversing the dômes de Miage, Bionnassay and the Mont Blanc the pair made a stop at the Couvercle hut for an early morning departure on to Champex, Switzerland.
Kilian and Stephane were due at the Aiguille d'Argentière, where the accident happened, at around 11 am on Sunday.
While walking along a ridge to reach the Barbey couloir, a snow cornice gave way under the weight of Stephane, leading him to a fall of 600 metres.
His team partner Kilian Jornet immediately gave the alarm, however despite the rapid intervention of the emergency rescue services within an hour, Stephane Brosse was found dead.
Stéphane Brosse has won several medals at World, European and French levels and is a former winner of the Patrouille Des Glaciers. He was also the record holder for the Mont Blanc ski mountaineering record, with a total time of 5 hours 15 minutes 47 seconds.
Our thoughts go out to his friends and family.
