The accident alert was triggered on Saturday “at 4:35 a.m., four competitors having fallen in a mountainous area made slippery by the weather conditions”, she said in a press release. The start of the Haut Giffre ultra-trail, a 90 km race, was given at 11:45 p.m. in Samoëns (Haute-Savoie).
A man born in 1972 died on the spot of cardio-respiratory arrest. “The exact reasons for his death will be determined by the autopsy that was required,” according to the prosecutor. The three other injured victims are also men suffering from head trauma. One of them born in 1986 was airlifted to Annecy hospital. Another born in 1971 was airlifted to the Alpes-Leman Hospital Center. Finally, a last more slightly injured victim, a man born in 1976, was evacuated by road to Sallanches, detailed Ms. Bouisset.
Open investigation
“All races have been stopped or canceled,” she said. Other people were treated for hypothermia, according to the prefecture which mentioned the difficult conditions of care by the PGHM (High Mountain gendarmerie platoon) and the Sdis (departmental fire and rescue service) due to the sector, located at altitude, and difficult weather conditions. “We had significant rainfall between 2:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. combined with low temperatures,” she stressed.
