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| Stunned France probes deadly Argentina helicopter crash | Stunned France probes deadly Argentina helicopter crash |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Prosecutors in France have opened a manslaughter investigation after two helicopters crashed in Argentina, killing eight French nationals. | Prosecutors in France have opened a manslaughter investigation after two helicopters crashed in Argentina, killing eight French nationals. |
| Three well-known French sports personalities were among those killed in the collision, which also claimed the lives of the two Argentine pilots. | Three well-known French sports personalities were among those killed in the collision, which also claimed the lives of the two Argentine pilots. |
| French President Francois Hollande said it was "a cause of immense sadness". | French President Francois Hollande said it was "a cause of immense sadness". |
| Both helicopters were involved in the filming of TV survival show Dropped, which airs on French channel TF1. | Both helicopters were involved in the filming of TV survival show Dropped, which airs on French channel TF1. |
| On the show, celebrities are flown into rough terrain and filmed while they attempt to find food and shelter. | On the show, celebrities are flown into rough terrain and filmed while they attempt to find food and shelter. |
| Yachtswoman Florence Arthaud, Olympic swimmer Camille Muffat and Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine were the show's celebrities on board at the time of the crash. They all died. | Yachtswoman Florence Arthaud, Olympic swimmer Camille Muffat and Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine were the show's celebrities on board at the time of the crash. They all died. |
| Other contestants were standing on the ground blindfolded a few hundred metres away when the accident happened, French media said. | Other contestants were standing on the ground blindfolded a few hundred metres away when the accident happened, French media said. |
| The five other French nationals 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 five other French nationals 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. | The Argentine pilots were named as Juan Carlos Castillo and Roberto Abate. |
| 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. |
| Profiles of Muffat, Vastine and Arthaud | |
| The cause of the crash is as yet unclear and investigations are under way. The inquiry in France is standard procedure when its nationals die overseas. | The cause of the crash is as yet unclear and investigations are under way. The inquiry in France is standard procedure when its nationals die overseas. |
| 'Great athletes' | 'Great athletes' |
| Tributes have poured in to the dead stars from France and beyond. | Tributes have poured in to the dead stars from France and beyond. |
| "We are shocked by this sad news," said Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee. | "We are shocked by this sad news," said Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee. |
| "Our thoughts are with the families and friends of these great athletes who have left us." | "Our thoughts are with the families and friends of these great athletes who have left us." |
| "The world of sport and the Olympic family have lost three of their key members," he said, calling them champions and role models. | "The world of sport and the Olympic family have lost three of their key members," he said, calling them champions and role models. |
| British round-the-world yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur told the BBC: "Florence's view was that the sea is out there and it's there for the taking. | British round-the-world yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur told the BBC: "Florence's view was that the sea is out there and it's there for the taking. |
| "You know, I'm sure she's inspired many, many people," she added. | "You know, I'm sure she's inspired many, many people," she added. |
| Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice, Muffat's hometown, spoke of his sadness: "I'm distraught. Immense grief," he said. | Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice, Muffat's hometown, spoke of his sadness: "I'm distraught. Immense grief," he said. |
| "I saw her grow up a little as if she were my daughter. I'm thinking of her parents. Camille, we miss you." | "I saw her grow up a little as if she were my daughter. I'm thinking of her parents. Camille, we miss you." |
| Filming for the TV programme began late last month at Ushuaia in the deep south of Argentina and had since moved to the mountainous western province of Rioja. | Filming for the TV programme began 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". |
| Reaction: Lucy Williamson, BBC News, Paris | Reaction: 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. |
| Officials have said the weather conditions in the mountainous area where the helicopters went down were good. | 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. "Aeronautical experts will have to determine that," he added. | "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. |
| "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. |
| Reality TV meets tragedy | Reality TV meets tragedy |