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| Three French sports stars die in Argentina helicopter crash | Three French sports stars die in Argentina helicopter crash |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Three French sports personalities are among 10 people killed in a helicopter crash in Argentina, the French presidential office confirmed. | |
| Eight French nationals and their two Argentine pilots died when two helicopters collided in La Rioja province in the country's north-west. | Eight French nationals and their two Argentine pilots died when two helicopters collided in La Rioja province in the country's north-west. |
| Yachtswoman Florence Arthaud, Olympic swimmer Camille Muffat and Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine all perished. | |
| The helicopters were involved in the filming of TV survival show Dropped. | The helicopters were involved in the filming of TV survival show Dropped. |
| The show, on channel TF1, flies celebrities into rough terrain by helicopter and films their attempts to find food and shelter. | |
| "The sudden death of our fellow French nationals is a cause of immense sadness," said a statement from French President Francois Hollande. | "The sudden death of our fellow French nationals is a cause of immense sadness," said a statement from French President Francois Hollande. |
| The cause of the crash is as yet unclear and investigations are under way. | |
| The three sports stars killed | The three sports stars killed |
| Camille Muffat, 25, won three medals, including gold in the 400m freestyle in the 2012 London Olympics. She retired from competitive swimming in 2014. | Camille Muffat, 25, won three medals, including gold in the 400m freestyle in the 2012 London Olympics. She retired from competitive swimming in 2014. |
| Alexis Vastine, 28, won bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the light-welterweight category. He was narrowly beaten in the quarter-finals of the 2012 Games. | Alexis Vastine, 28, won bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the light-welterweight category. He was narrowly beaten in the quarter-finals of the 2012 Games. |
| Florence Arthaud, 57, was a hugely accomplished sailor, winning the 1990 Route du Rhum, the prestigious solo Atlantic race. A serious car accident put her in a coma when she was 17. | Florence Arthaud, 57, was a hugely accomplished sailor, winning the 1990 Route du Rhum, the prestigious solo Atlantic race. A serious car accident put her in a coma when she was 17. |
| The helicopters collided during filming near Villa Castelli, about 1,170km (720 miles) from Buenos Aires, according to local officials. | The helicopters collided during filming near Villa Castelli, about 1,170km (720 miles) from Buenos Aires, according to local officials. |
| Five of those killed were said to have worked for Adventure Line Productions (ALP), the company making the programme. | |
| They were named as Laurent Sbasnik, Lucie Mei-Dalby, Volodia Guinard, Brice Guilbert and Edouard Gilles. | |
| The Argentine pilots were named as Juan Carlos Castillo and Roberto Abate. | |
| France in mourning - by Lucy Williamson, BBC News, Paris | France in mourning - by Lucy Williamson, BBC News, Paris |
| France is waking up to the shock of its loss, with the death of the three sports stars and five other French nationals splashed across every paper, every news bulletin. | France is waking up to the shock of its loss, with the death of the three sports stars and five other French nationals splashed across every paper, every news bulletin. |
| Prime Minister Manuel Valls tweeted his "immense sadness" saying "all France is grieving this morning". | Prime Minister Manuel Valls tweeted his "immense sadness" saying "all France is grieving this morning". |
| Meanwhile Culture Minister Fleur Pellerin told the BFM-TV news channel that the three athletes were "among the most outstanding ambassadors for our country". | Meanwhile Culture Minister Fleur Pellerin told the BFM-TV news channel that the three athletes were "among the most outstanding ambassadors for our country". |
| Former Arsenal and France striker Sylvain Wiltord, who was taking part in the current series, said via social media, "I'm trembling, I can't talk. I'm horrified." And a former team-mate of Camille Muffat, Yannick Agnel said simply: "not her… Let us be strong." | Former Arsenal and France striker Sylvain Wiltord, who was taking part in the current series, said via social media, "I'm trembling, I can't talk. I'm horrified." And a former team-mate of Camille Muffat, Yannick Agnel said simply: "not her… Let us be strong." |
| But amid the horror there are also the first signs of anger. Well-known musician Benjamin Bioley has criticised what he called a "horrible TV reality show that serves up cardboard stars and then steals three wonderful athletes". | But amid the horror there are also the first signs of anger. Well-known musician Benjamin Bioley has criticised what he called a "horrible TV reality show that serves up cardboard stars and then steals three wonderful athletes". |
| As the country begins to absorb the news, the questions over this incident and the circumstances that led to it will only grow. | As the country begins to absorb the news, the questions over this incident and the circumstances that led to it will only grow. |
| Tributes to stars | |
| Filming had begun late last month at Ushuaia in the deep south of Argentina and had since moved to the mountainous western province of Rioja. | Filming had begun late last month at Ushuaia in the deep south of Argentina and had since moved to the mountainous western province of Rioja. |
| One cast member, figure skater Philippe Candeloro, was said to be "extremely shocked but unharmed". | One cast member, figure skater Philippe Candeloro, was said to be "extremely shocked but unharmed". |
| Officials have said the weather conditions in the mountainous area where the helicopters went down were good. | |
| "An explosion occurred and it's believed that they must have collided,'' said La Rioja Secretary of Security Cesar Angulo. | "An explosion occurred and it's believed that they must have collided,'' said La Rioja Secretary of Security Cesar Angulo. |
| "Aeronautical experts will have to determine that," he added. | "Aeronautical experts will have to determine that," he added. |
| "We learn with great sadness about the accident during the filming of the Dropped show," said a statement issued by TF1. | "We learn with great sadness about the accident during the filming of the Dropped show," said a statement issued by TF1. |
| "All TF1 teams come together in this terrible time with the pain of the families and relatives of the victims." | "All TF1 teams come together in this terrible time with the pain of the families and relatives of the victims." |
| TF1 says the show will be postponed and the rest of the crew is returning home. | TF1 says the show will be postponed and the rest of the crew is returning home. |
| This is not the first time that a reality show produced for TF1 by ALP has been hit by tragedy. | This is not the first time that a reality show produced for TF1 by ALP has been hit by tragedy. |
| Two years ago, a contestant died during the first day of production of one of the channel's ratings winners Koh-Lanta, an adventure show filmed in Cambodia. | Two years ago, a contestant died during the first day of production of one of the channel's ratings winners Koh-Lanta, an adventure show filmed in Cambodia. |
| Gerald Babin, 25, had suffered a cardiac arrest after taking part in a tug of war. He was treated by a staff doctor and was airlifted to hospital. | Gerald Babin, 25, had suffered a cardiac arrest after taking part in a tug of war. He was treated by a staff doctor and was airlifted to hospital. |
| Barely a week later, the 38-year-old doctor, Thierry Costa, took his life complaining that his reputation had been sullied by media reports. | Barely a week later, the 38-year-old doctor, Thierry Costa, took his life complaining that his reputation had been sullied by media reports. |
| The 2013 season of the show was cancelled. | The 2013 season of the show was cancelled. |