5 French Foreign Legionnaires Killed by Avalanche While Ski Training in France Yesterday

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Rescue helicopter aiding in the search for missing soldiers in an avalanche in the French Alps yesterday. photo: AFP PHOTO / LEDAUPHINE.COM
Rescue helicopter aiding in the search for missing soldiers in an avalanche in the French Alps yesterday. photo: AFP PHOTO / LEDAUPHINE.COM

Five French Foreign Legionnaires were killed in an avalanche while skiing/training in the French Alps on Monday.  11 soldiers were caught in the avalanche in total.  The other 6 soldiers in the avalanche were all injured.  These soldiers were skiing at the time of the avalanche and most likely triggered the avalanche themselves.

The soldiers were skiing at the Petit Argentier (the avalanche occurred near Valfrejus near the Italian border) at 7,200-feet at 2pm when the avalanche occurred.  50 soldiers were training off-piste at the time of the avalanche.

map showing avalanche location. image: bbc
map showing avalanche location. image: bbc

Search and rescue crews, helicopters, and search dogs were dispatched to the scene.

These soldier were member of the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment based at Saint-Christol is southern France.  They were training at France’s national center for mountain warfare at Modane.

The group was a mixture of veterans and new recruits.

The French Foreign Legion was set up in the 1800’s for foreign nationals to serve in French armies.  Many receive French citizenship in exchange for their service.

The nationalities of the deceased is not currently being reported.

All the soldiers had avalanche gear and the rescuers were on the scene within minutes.

All the soldiers taking part in the exercises had avalanche detection kits, and rescuers were on the scene within minutes, reports said.

Heavy snow and high avalanche danger in France had lead to 2 teenage students and a Ukranian dying in an avalanche in nearby Les Deux Alpes.  A teacher has been charged with manslaughter due to the avalanche deaths in Les Deux Alpes.  4 others died in avalanche in the French Alps this month.

An honor guard from the French army's 6th Battalion stands at attention as they await the arrival of Lt. Gen. Khalid Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, commander of Joint Forces in Saudi Arabia, during Operation Desert Shield. The soldier in front is holding a 5.56mm FA MAS rifle, equipped with a bayonet.
An honor guard from the French army’s 6th Battalion stands at attention as they await the arrival of Lt. Gen. Khalid Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, commander of Joint Forces in Saudi Arabia, during Operation Desert Shield. The soldier in front is holding a 5.56mm FA MAS rifle, equipped with a bayonet.

French Foreign Legion:

  • Set up in 1831 to recruit foreign nationals to serve in the French armed forces
  • Was mainly used in battles for the French colonial empire in 19th Century
  • Members have come from 140 counties
  • Those injured for France can apply for French citizenship
  • Has served as a rapid deployment force in recent decades
  • Currently has about 7,700 members
  • Motto: Legio Patria Nostra (Legion Is Our Fatherland)

–   BBC

 

 

Posted by AvyBrains |

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