Professional skier Jean Daniel Pession and his girlfriend, ski instructor Elisa Arlian, were found dead after falling 2300 feet from Mount Zerbion in northern Italy. The couple, discovered still together by their cell phone signals, were just a step away from the summit. The Italian Winter Sports Federation expressed profound sadness over the loss of the two young lives.
Jean-Louis Georgelin, the French army general appointed to oversee the reconstruction of Notre-Dame Cathedral, has died in a mountain fall while hiking in the Pyrénées. The 74-year-old former chief of the defence staff was found on Mount Valier after failing to return to a mountain refuge. His death is being treated as an accident. Georgelin, a highly respected soldier, was known for his military approach to the restoration project and had been designated as the chief of operations. His passing is a loss for the nation, the military, and the ongoing efforts to rebuild the fire-damaged cathedral.
A hiker from California, Joy Cho, fell off Teewinot Mountain in Grand Teton National Park and died from significant injuries. Her hiking companions were safely transported back to their vehicles. Teewinot Mountain reaches a height of 12,325 feet.