A French world champion wingsuit skydiver plummeted to his death when his parachute failed to open during a daring free-fall jump over Europe’s highest peak, according to reports.
Pierre Wolnik, a two-time freefly world champion, died Saturday after leaping from a helicopter above the Mont Blanc massif in the French Alps in his wingsuit and free-falling for several seconds when his chute failed to deploy as he plunged toward the ground, according to French outlet Le Figaro.
The 37-year-old crashed into the rocky terrain. First responders later found his body in Les Bossons.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The entire sport skydiving community mourns the loss of a talented young man with such a warm smile,” Yves-Marie Guillaud, president of the Fédération Française de Parachutisme, said on Facebook Sunday.
“Our condolences go first and foremost to his family and loved ones, but also to his teammates and the entire French national artistic skydiving team, and more generally to all French national teams. May the memory of this exceptional skydiver fill our hearts as skydivers.”
Wolnik, who claimed his world titles in 2022 and 2024, was a star of the extreme sport and set to represent France at the 2026 World Air Sports Federal Championships this summer, the outlet reported.
The elite athlete also worked as a videographer for the Fédération Française de Parachutisme, capturing heart-stopping aerial stunts that he shared with his more than 6,000 Instagram followers.
In his final Instagram post on Jan. 20, Wolnik shared footage of himself and three others honing their skills in a wind tunnel.
“Nothing beats winter four-way training at home,” he captioned the video.
Other posts showcased his thrilling real-world jumps and rigorous training sessions.
“A videographer with the French National Artistic Parachuting Team and two-time Freefly World Champion in 2022 and 2024, Pierre leaves behind the memory of a teammate whose presence will forever be etched in the hearts of his loved ones,” the Fédération Française de Parachutisme said on Instagram.
“Today, the entire sport parachuting community mourns and pays tribute to a young man renowned for his talent and exceptional character.”
An investigation into the deadly fall is ongoing.
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