On Saturday, June 1st, Italian World Cup skier Jean Daniel Pession and his girlfriend, Elisa Arlian, tragically passed away in a mountain accident in northern Italy. The couple fell nearly 2,300 feet off of Mount Zerbion in the Aosta Valley, Italy. The incident was confirmed by the Italian Winter Sports Federation.
The couple had set out early in the morning to reach a familiar peak, but when their families didn’t see them return, the emergency center was contacted and helicopters were immediately activated. When rescuers reached them, they were found still tied together in a final embrace.
Many people in the region have expressed their condolences to the families of Pession and Arlian. Aosta Valley President Renzo Testolin and Italian Winter Sports Federation President Flavio Roda both offered their support to the families during this difficult time. Additionally, Aosta Valley’s Regional Council President Alberto Bertin expressed deep sadness at the loss of the two young lives and offered support to their families and loved ones.
The Italian Winter Sports Federation also extended their condolences to the families of Pession and Arlian for the tragic accident. The heartbreaking incident has deeply affected the local community and the winter sports industry as a whole. Overwhelming support and sympathy have been poured out for the families and loved ones of the couple who lost their lives doing what they loved.
