(Newswire.net — March 11, 2015) — Eight French nationals and their two Argentine pilots died when two helicopters collided in La Rioja province in the country’s north-west, CNN reported.
Yachtswoman Florence Arthaud, Olympic swimmer Camille Muffat and Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine were all killed in a crash of two helicopters involved in filming the reality show ‘Survivor.’
Production of the TV reality-show franchise, ‘Survivor’ selected wild and rough terrain in Argentina to drop celebrities by helicopter and film their attempts to find food and shelter.
The death of the French celebrities obviously affected many people in France.
“The sudden death of our fellow French nationals is the cause of immense sadness,” said a statement from French President Francois Hollande.
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. 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.
Besides French Olympic medalists, five French from the Adventure Line Productions (ALP), and two Argentinian plots died in a crash.
The cause of the crash is still unclear and investigations are under way, however, the witnesses said two helicopters collided with each other about a minute after lift off.
French prosecutors have opened an inquiry into the deaths, which is standard procedure when nationals die overseas, CNN reported.
“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. The world of sport and the Olympic family have lost three of their key members,” he said, calling them champions and role models.