French sports stars killed in Argentina helicopter crash

Wednesday, 11 March 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Olympic gold medalist swimmer Camille Muffat, boxer Alexis Vastine and champion sailor Florence Arthaud died in the double helicopter crash in Argentina. Photograph: Getty Images Reuters: Three French sports stars - Olympic swimmer Camille Muffat, yachtswoman Florence Arthaud and boxer Alexis Vastine - were among 10 people killed when two helicopters collided in Argentina on Monday during the filming of a reality TV show. Authorities said it was still unclear what caused the accident in the rugged western province of La Rioja near the Andes mountains. “The sudden death of our fellow French nationals is a cause of immense sadness,” French President Francois Hollande’s office said in a statement. Two pilots and several members of the ALP TV production company involved in shooting the adventure show “Dropped” for private TV station TF1 were among the dead, officials said. “The whole of French sport is in mourning because we have lost three huge champions,” Thierry Braillard, junior minister for sports, town and youth affairs, told RTL radio.

“Florence Arthaud - we all knew her as the ‘Fiancee of the Atlantic’,” he said, referring to a nickname she earned through her many daring voyages including a 1990 record for the fastest solitary crossing of that body of water. TF1 issued a statement expressing solidarity for the victims’ families. French media said filming had been suspended and the crew and other contestants were heading back to France. “We have no details on the exact circumstances at the moment,” TF1 chief executive Nonce Paolini said. “All I can say at the moment is that we are in a state of complete shock.” “Dropped” involves contestants being left in the wilderness and using their skills to find their way back to civilisation. The collision was the second time in two years that a reality show produced by ALP for TF1 had been hit by tragedy. Arthaud, 57, was one of the first women to carve a place for herself in the top levels of sailing. Muffat, 25, won 400 metres freestyle gold at the 2012 London Olympics. Vastine, 28, won bronze at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.