Top French Athletes Among 10 Dead After 2 Helicopters Collide In Argentina

A group of French sports stars participating in a reality TV show were among 10 people killed when their helicopters collided in mid-air while filming in northwestern Argentina.

According to media report, the helicopters were heading to the town of Villa Castelli in a mountainous area of northwestern Argentina for filming of the reality TV show “Dropped” for the French broadcaster TF1.

Eight French passengers and the choppers’ two Argentinian pilots died in the crash, the news agency Telam reported, citing local authorities.

France’s Camille Muffat reacts after winning her women’s 200 metres freestyle semi-final and qualifying for 2012 London Olympics at the French Swimming Championships in Dunkerque, northern France in this March 20, 2012 file photo. French President Francois Hollande’s office confirmed on March 10, 2015 that eight French nationals were among 10 killed in an accident involving two helicopters in Argentina. The Elysee Palace said in a statement that famed sailor Florence Arthaud, Olympic swimmer Muffat and boxer Alexis Vastine were among the dead. It added that the accident happened during the filming of a TV programme for the TF1 TV channel. (REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol)

France’s Alexis Vastine await the ruling announcing the winner after his men’s welter (69kg) quarter-final boxing match against Ukraine’s Taras Shelestyuk at the London Olympic Games in this August 7, 2012 file photo. French President Francois Hollande’s office confirmed on March 10, 2015 that eight French nationals were among 10 killed in an accident involving two helicopters in Argentina. The Elysee Palace said in a statement that famed sailor Florence Arthaud, Olympic swimmer Camille Muffat and boxer Vastine were among the dead. It added that the accident happened during the filming of a TV programme for the TF1 TV channel. (REUTERS/Murad Sezer)

The dead included the swimmer Camille Muffatt, who won three medals at the 2012 Olympics in London; the boxer Alexis Vastine, who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing; and the sailor Florence Arthaud.

Argentina’s official news agency Telam said one of the helicopters belonged to the provincial government and the other to organizers of a survival competition that had been held for three years near the village of Villa Castelli.

The TV show involved sports stars being helicoptered into remote areas while blindfolded and then having to survive in the wilderness, according to French media.