On Saturday, world champion skydiver Pierre Wolnik was in the middle of a jump off Mont Blanc when tragedy struck. His parachute failed to open, and Wolnik died from the impact of hitting the ground.
The renowned French daredevil was 37.
What Happened?
On Feb. 7, Wolnik, clad in a wingsuit, rode a helicopter up to the top of the Mont Blanc range. According to Le Figaro, he jumped out of the aircraft. During his descent, however, his parachute malfunctioned and did not open.
After several seconds of free fall, Wolnik hit the ground in the nearby village of Les Bossons. First responders quickly arrived and pronounced him dead at the scene.
Who Was Wolnik?
Wolnik was an experienced skydiver, winning the 2022 and 2024 wingsuit world championships. He was set to participate in the upcoming 2026 competition.
He also worked as a coach for aspiring skydivers and as a videographer for the French Federation of Parachuting (FFP), according to the Daily Beast.
Wolnik frequently posted videos of his flights and training on social media. In his final post on Jan. 20 on Instagram, he was training in an air tunnel with other athletes for a four-man flight.
In a social media post, the FFP expressed its condolences for Wolnik’s family and friends: “Today, the entire skydiving community mourns and pays tribute to a young man known for his talent and human qualities.”
The FFP’s president, Yves-Marie Guillot, also wrote a personal message about the tragedy in a Facebook post.
“The entire sport parachuting community mourns the loss of a talented young man with such a warm smile,” Guillot wrote. “Our condolences go first and foremost to his family and loved ones, but also to his teammates and the entire French team.”
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