This Article is From Mar 30, 2014

French, New Zealand wingsuit fliers die in Switzerland: police

French, New Zealand wingsuit fliers die in Switzerland: police

(Representational Image)

Geneva: Two wingsuit divers from France and New Zealand died in Switzerland and a third was seriously injured after they crashed into an Alpine pasture, the police said on Sunday.

The three men jumped from a helicopter over the Luetschental valley in the central canton of Bern Saturday afternoon with the intention of landing in the valley, cantonal police said.

However, for some reason, all three crashed into the pasture near Sengg and when rescue workers reached the spot, the 33-year-old New Zealander and the 34-year-old Frenchman were already dead.

The third man, whose nationality and age were not given, was taken to hospital by helicopter, police said.

Some 20 people are killed each year taking part in the extreme sport.

Last August, wingsuit diver Mark Sutton, who parachuted into the London 2012 Olympics dressed as James Bond, died from crashing into a mountain ridge in the Swiss Alps after jumping from a helicopter.
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