Mountains and the sea killed 3 hikers in Corsica

A French couple in their 30s were surprised by a snow storm on the GR20 above Vivario last night. While the woman managed to reach the Onda refuge, frozen body of his husband was found by units of the High Mountain Police from Corte this morning just 40 minutes walk from the refuge.

Another victim of the return to winter in Corsica was a 55 year old woman who was hiking above Asco. Her husband, injured and suffering from hypothermia, reached the village and alert the rescue services, but it was already too late for his wife, whose body was found today around noon.

The last victim was a 19 year old Swiss tourist who was carried away by a 3-metre wave while walking on a storm-lashed beach in the north of Corsica on Monday.

Violent winds, freezing fog and rain are expected to continue lashing the island until at least Wednesday. A spokesman for the PGHM (High Mountain Police) called on hikers not to go into the Corsican mountains for the next 48 hours.

Sources

• Two dead in French snow storms (Ski and Snowboard News of PisteHors.com)
• Weather kills three on French island of Corsica (France24.com/AFP)
• Weather kills three on French island of Corsica (Expatica.com/AFP)

Related

• Snow in Corsica
• GR 20 in April, May and November
• Hiker's guide to the GR 20