On Tuesday 19 December 2023, at around 3:40 p.m local time, the Chamonix Platoon of the High Mountain Gendarmerie (PGHM) were called to rescue two climbers. They departed from their base in Bois du Bouchet Chamonix, in a specially configure Choucas 74 helicopter.
Within minutes the helicopter had climbed to Montenvers and was travelling south over the length of the Mer de Clace before climbing rapidly up and over over the seracs in the Valley Blanche before heading up over the Glacier du Geant towards the Mont-Blanc du Tacul.
The two climbers had taken a fall while they were climbing the Gabarrou-Albinoni couloir on the east face of Mont-Blanc du Tacul.
Both of the high alpine mountaineers suffered multiple traumas, one to the pelvis, the other to the ribs. Fortunately, the injuries are not life threatening.
Both climbers were still hanging by their ropes in the colour, necessitating a difficult close proximity air-bourne rescue.
With both patients onboard, first aid was provided by the PGHM doctor, while the helicopter flew directly to the hospital in Sallanches some 22km from the site of the incident.
Le Dauphiné
