Mountain climbers rescue operation at Mont Blanc

Mountain climbers rescue operation at Mont Blanc

On December 27, two climbers, Jean Vincendon and François Henry, were reported at risk on the slopes of Mont Blanc. Spotted alive in the twin four days later, two helicopters left to search for them. However, in attempting to land one of the helicopters crashed next to the climbers, injuring the four rescuers on board. The guides Chappaz, Munster and two other monitors resume the rescue operation to recover the 6 men in the mountain. Once there, the rescuers installed the two climbers, whose hands and legs were frozen in the cabin of the accident aircraft, and brought Major Santini and Warrant Officer Blanc to the "Vallot" refuge. In Chamonix, the families of mountaineers wait in anguish. In the night, Lionel Terray, left by land, returns after having been blocked by a storm. Commander Le Gall organizes the repatriation of the men put in shelter in the refuge.

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File : Mont Blanc

Publication date : 9 January 1957