French sports stars among 10 dead in Argentina helicopter crash
Updated: 2015-03-10 09:21
(Agencies)
|
|||||||||||
Former Route du Rhum sailing race winner Florence Arthaud leaves the dock after saying goodbye to competitors at Saint-Malo harbour, French Brittany in this October 30, 2010 file photo. French President Francois Hollande's office confirmed on March 10, 2015 that eight French nationals were among 10 killed in an accident involving two helicopters in Argentina. The Elysee Palace said in a statement that famed sailor Arthaud, Olympic swimmer Camille Muffat and boxer Alexis Vastine were among the dead. It added that the accident happened during the filming of a TV programme for the TF1 TV channel. [Photo/Agencies] |
Arthaud, 57, was one of the first women to carve a place for herself in the world of sailing and in 1990 secured the record for the fastest solitary crossing of the North Atlantic, according to her publisher's site.
Muffat, 25, won 400 metres freestyle gold at the 2012 London Olympics. Vastine, 28, won bronze at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
"I am sad for my friends, I'm shaking, I'm horrified, I can't find the words," Tweeted Sylvain Wiltord, ex-footballer for English Premier League club Arsenal and fellow cast member.
The victims included the helicopters' two pilots, Cesar Angulo, La Rioja's security chief, told reporters earlier.
"There were no survivors, according to the information we have," Angulo said.
Argentina's official news agency Telam said one of the helicopters belonged to the provincial government and the other to organizers of a survival competition that had been held for three years near the village of Villa Castelli.
Related Stories
Harrison Ford crash-lands on golf course 2015-03-07 07:55
Military helicopter crash kills 4 in southern Vietnam 2015-01-28 17:00
4 killed in Turkish military helicopter crash 2014-10-13 16:40
72 passengers settle claims in fatal 2013 Asiana crash 2015-03-05 07:40
Today's Top News
Putin to meet Kyrgyz president in St. Petersburg
Russian film on Crimea sparks off quarrels
Germany seeks co-op with China in high-tech area
Air China to start Budapest-Beijing flight
UK seeks to join China-proposed bank
China has 'huge growth potential'
72% worry about retirement life
Fears voiced over violent scenes
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Annual legislative and political advisory sessions |
Festival Special: Apps that make holiday shopping easier |
Listed firms caught in anti-corruption net |
Conca set to return to China |
CES: Spotlight on Chinese gadgets |
Yearender: What happened around the globe in 2014 |