This experienced mountaineer was climbing an icefall on March 10 when he was surprised by several successive avalanches. The search had been suspended due to heavy snowfall.
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The body of a mountaineer was found Sunday, April 3, in the followingnoon, by the CRS of the High Mountain Gendarmerie Platoon (PGHM) of Gavarnie, reports France Bleu Béarn Bigorre. Johan Fagot, ski instructor in Cauterets (Hautes-Pyrénées), had been missing since March 10. He was 31 years old.
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This experienced mountaineer was climbing an icefall when he was surprised by several successive avalanches at the Cirque de Gavarnie. According to the rescuers, the 30-year-old was not wearing a beacon allowing him to be quickly located in the event of an accident.
The search was suspended the day following his disappearance, due to bad weather conditions. “The circus is very snow-laden above 2,000 meters. This morning it is raining up to 2,000 meters and above, it is snowing, it is a continuous spillway”, explained Lieutenant Bougy, commander of the PGHM of Pierrefitte-Nestalas. Two rescuers were also buried but managed to get out of the snow.