A mountaineering expedition descended into horror yesterday when three climbers plunged 200 meters to death on the Aiguille du Midi near Chamonix, France. The only survivor, 32-year-old Austrian guide Lukas Weber, came round halfway through the fall before bracing his descent with an ice axe – just in time to watch his teammates vanish into space.
The Final Moments
⏱️ 10:17 AM: Rope team strikes concealed sheet of ice
10:18 AM: Lead climber loses balance, causing chain fall
10:19 AM: Weber self-arrests at 3,800m altitude
10:25 AM: Helicopter rescue begun
Why It Occurred:
• Stealth Ice: Thin glaze undetectable beneath fresh snowfall
• Rope Delay: 2-second delay in tension adjustment proved deadly
• Altitude Factor: Decision fatigue at 4,000m
The Survivor’s Choice:
In his hospital bed, Weber explained the sickening calculus:
I had to cut the rope or we all died. Their eyes. they knew. I’ll see those three nods forever.
The Fallen:
1. Marie-Claude Renault, 41 (French geology professor)
2. Jakob Hertzog, 29 (Swiss mountain guide)
3. Eduardo Moreno, 38 (Spanish expedition photographer)
