Skier Dies in 300m Fall in Alps' Couloir des Cosmiques
On May 10, a French skier in his 50s died after falling over 300m in the Couloir des Cosmiques, a steep and dangerous ski route near Chamonix, France, in the Mont Blanc massif.
This area is known for tough skiing, graded 5.1, E3, D+, S5, and is popular among very experienced skiers. However, a fall can be fatal.
At 9:20 am, the Chamonix PGHM rescue team (Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne) received an alert, according to Le Dauphine. The rescuers helicoptered from their base in Les Bois, reaching the site minutes later. The slope was too steep to land, so rescuers were lowered to the skier. They tried to revive the man, but he had died. They then airlifted out his body. The skier's name was not released.
That day was busy for the PGHM, with six rescues. In the Capucin Couloir, another skier broke his leg and was evacuated. On the North Face of Mont Blanc du Tacul, a skier caused an avalanche that swept away others. The PGHM rescued the people and took them to the hospital.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
When and where Saharan dust storm and 'blood rain' could hit the UK this week
The UK's topsy-turvy weather is set to continue this week, with forecasters hinting at the possibility of 'blood rain' heading to UK shores. A brief blast of heat is expected for much of the country later in the coming days - only to quickly be replaced by torrential rain. And, what's more, it is predicted the downpours will bring with it some Saharan dust. Here, Yahoo News UK looks at exactly what Saharan dust is and what it could mean for the coming days. It's a mixture of sand, detritus and dust from the Sahara Desert that have been blown thousands of miles by strong winds in the upper part of the atmosphere as far north as British shores. However, for it to end up on the ground, it needs to be carried there by a meteorological vehicle, such as rain. According to the Met Office, Britain's official forecaster: "As raindrops fall, they collect particles of dust on the way down. Then when the raindrops land on something and eventually evaporate, they leave behind a layer of dust." This is sometimes referred to as 'blood rain'. According to Met Office forecasters, there are currently "hints of a little bit of Saharan dust in the atmosphere on Thursday and perhaps Friday". Thunderstorms forecast for later in the week will "potentially wash any sand out of the atmosphere". Heavy rain is currently expected to start in Northern Ireland, western Wales and south west England on Wednesday night, before moving north and east over Thursday. This is then predicted to be followed by a second band of rain following the same pattern over Friday and Saturday. However, downpours are also expected to be preceded by high temperatures, reaching almost 30C in parts of southern and central England. Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Mike Silverstone, said: 'After largely benign weather early in the week, some intense, thundery showers will move in on Wednesday evening. "These thunderstorms are being triggered by some warm, humid air that is moving into the UK from the south. The intense rainfall could see 20-40mm accumulating over just a few hours, which could cause some disruption. "While there are no severe weather warnings issued at the moment, it is possible thunderstorm warnings may be issued this week.' The most obvious impact most will see from 'blood rain' is a reddish residue left on cars, pavements and garden furniture. In 2022, Saharan dust left a red tinge to snow at ski resorts in the French Pyrenees, while staff at Legoland in Germany had to deploy jet washers to hose down attractions before visitors arrived. BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood advised the public to keep an eye out for "impressive sunrise/sets" as a result of the phenomenon. As the southerly flow develops this week, there will be some Saharan dust pushing widely across the UK from later on Wednesday to Friday. You may notice this on your car! And where there are clear skies there is also the chance of some impressive sunrise/sets.@BBCBreakfast xx — Carol Kirkwood (@carolkirkwood) June 9, 2025 However, it can also have more serious consequences, particularly for people with respiratory conditions, such as asthma, COPD or bronchitis. 'If there's a lot of air pollution in the air [and] if you have a pre-existing lung condition, those fine particles can get into your airway and irritate airways that may already be inflamed," said Karen Spillett, deputy head of health advice at Asthma and Lung UK. "If you're out and about and you have a reliever inhaler, make sure you've got that reliever inhaler with you.' She added: 'If you do start to get symptoms — that might be coughing, wheezing, tightness across your chest, feeling a bit more breathless — you can take that reliever inhaler and that can hopefully help with your symptoms.' One of the last widespread instances of Saharan dust affecting Europe was in March 2022, when parts of Germany, Spain and France all found themselves blanketed with a layer of red debris. But it has also struck more recently, such as last month, when the phenomenon left a brown haze hanging over Athens, the Greek capital. And last year, dust clouds over Italy saw temperatures in June approach 40C. Closer to the dust's starting point, in Africa, a dust storm in Senegalese capital Dakar shortly before Christmas reduced visibility to less than 500 metres.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Yahoo
The Fascinating Way Hurricanes Will Get Their Names in 2025
As hurricane season ramps up, we are always wondering how the names for hurricanes and tropical storms are picked. In the U.S., the Atlantic hurricane season is typically June through November. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting an "above-normal" tropical storm season for 2025, with an estimated 13 to 19 storms that will reach winds high enough to be named. That means we'll be hearing these names on news reports in the coming months. A storm gets a name once it reaches tropical storm status (that is, it has a rotating circulation pattern and sustained winds of 39 miles per hour). The list is compiled by the United Nations' World Meteorological Organization. The list of 21 Atlantic hurricane names is alphabetical, and letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z are never used. Before 1978, names were exclusively female, but they have since alternated between male and female names. The WMO chooses names that are short and distinctive to help convey information with clarity, and they select a mix of English, French, and Spanish names. The names are planned out through 2028, but the lists actually repeat every six years. The names of the 2025 storms will be used once again in 2031. The only time the rotating lists of names changes is if a name is retired. Andrea Barry Chantal Dexter Erin Fernand Gabrielle Humberto Imelda Jerry Karen Lorenzo Melissa Nestor Olga Pablo Rebekah Sabastien Tanya Van Wendy Yes, according to the NOAA, a hurricane name will be retired if a storm is "so deadly or costly that the future use of its name for a different storm would be inappropriate for reasons of sensitivity." If that happens, the WMO will choose another name to take its place. Since 1954, a total of 99 hurricane names have been retired and replaced, including Andrew, Katrina, Sandy, Irma, Ivan, and Hugo. Prior to 2021, if the list of 21 named storms was exhausted in a given year, the remaining storms would be named according to the Greek alphabet (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, etc.). The WMO changed that procedure after the active 2020 season, when all 22 names and the first 9 letters of the Greek alphabet were used. The committee made the change "because it creates a distraction from the communication of hazard and storm warnings and is potentially confusing." Instead, a list of alternative names was compiled, and the WMO will choose names from that list if the need arises. You Might Also Like 70 Impressive Tiny Houses That Maximize Function and Style 30+ Paint Colors That Will Instantly Transform Your Kitchen
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Yahoo
Canadian fire smoke threatens air quality in Canada, US as it reaches Europe
Parts of Canada and the US received alerts for hazardous air quality as hundreds of wildfires spread throughout Canada, forcing 26,000 people to evacuate and spewing smoke across the Atlantic in Canada's latest extreme weather event. Canada's wildfires, which have already forced evacuations of more than 26,000 people, continued their stubborn spread Tuesday, with heavy smoke choking millions of Canadians and Americans and reaching as far away as Europe. Alerts were issued for parts of Canada and the neighboring United States warning of hazardous air quality. A water tanker air base was consumed by flames in Saskatchewan province, oil production has been disrupted in Alberta, and officials warned of worse to come with more communities threatened each day. "We have some challenging days ahead of us," Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe told a news conference, adding that the number of evacuees could rise quickly. Every summer, Canada grapples with forest fires, but an early start to the wildfire season this year and the scale of the blazes -- over two million hectares (494,000 acres) burned -- is worrying. Read moreClimate change made LA wildfires worse, says study The provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba have been hardest hit. Both declared wildfire emergencies in recent days. (FRANCE 24 with AFP) Read more on FRANCE 24 EnglishRead also:South Korea firefighters deploy helicopters as country's largest wildfires reigniteWildfire on remote French island threatens wildlife and research station
