Freerider Juliette Willmann dies in Patagonia avalanche

French freerider Juliette Willmann has died at the age of 29 following an avalanche in Patagonia. The accident occurred on September 29 at Cerro Crestón near El Chaltén, Argentina.

Willmann was on a ski tour with her husband, Pierre-Idris Mehdi, when they were struck by a slab avalanche. Reports indicate the pair was carried approximately 400 meters by the snow. While Willmann was found buried under roughly 1.5 meters of snow and could not be saved, her husband was rescued and is reported to be out of danger.

The international winter sports community has expressed profound grief over the loss of the athlete, who was well-known for her participation in freeride competitions and her pursuit of backcountry challenges.