Skier and girlfriend die after falling 2,300 feet off mountain before being found ‘still tied together’

A professional skier and his girlfriend have died after an accident in northern Italy.

The Italian Winter Sports Federation confirmed the tragic news in a statement on Saturday 1 June.

According to Italian broadcaster RAI, Jean Daniel Pession - an Italian World Cup skier - and Elisa Arlian, fell nearly 2,300 feet off Mount Zerbion in Aosta Valley in Italy.

The statement (translated) explains: "A terrible tragedy strikes the world of winter sports and speed skiing in particular.

"Jean Daniel Pession, a twenty-eight-year-old member of the World Cup team, lost his life in a tragic mountain accident that occurred above Champoluc (Ao). His girlfriend also died together with Pession.

"Over the course of his career, the Aosta Valley native had achieved the best results in 2021, placing fifteenth in the final World Cup ranking, while at the World Championships he came 22nd in Vars in 2022.

"President Flavio Roda and the entire Federation express their condolences to Pession family for this tragic misfortune."

Both were ski instructors, with the RAI explaining: “They were almost at the summit, just a step away, when suddenly they were betrayed by the mountain they loved so much.

“When they were found, they were still tied together, like in a final embrace.”

After hours of searching, the pair were found after a signal from one of their mobile phones was detected.

It's not entirely clear what happened, or how the couple fell, but authorities were called when Pession and Arlian's families became concerned over their whereabouts.

Tributes for the couple have been pouring in ever since the news was announced.

"Two young lives cut short by a mountain accident, that mountain which was their passion,” Aosta Valley’s Regional Council President Alberto Bertin said.

“In this moment of deep sadness, we express our closeness to the families, friends, and the entire sports community, embracing them with affection and compassion.”

Meanwhile, Flavio Roda, President of the Italian Winter Sports Federation, said: “This is a terrible tragedy for the world of winter sports, especially speed skiing. On behalf of the entire federation, I extend our deepest condolences to the Pession family during this unimaginable time of grief.”

While Pession was a World Cup champion, Arlian was a ski instructor and elementary school teacher.

Funerals are expected to be held for the pair on Tuesday (4 June) morning.