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Two helicopters collide in Argentina, French Olympic duo among dead

Published:Tuesday | March 10, 2015 | 12:00 AM
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A view of the wreckage of one of two helicopters that apparently collided in midair, near Villa Castelli, in Argentina's La Rioja province.
AP photo
In this August 3, 2012 file photo, France's Alexis Vastine reacts after defeating Mongolia's Tuvshinbat Byamba in a men's welterweight 69-kg preliminary boxing match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, in London.
In this July 29, 2012 file photo France's Camille Muffat celebrates with her gold medal for the women's 400-meter freestyle swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
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Olympic gold medal swimmer Camille Muffat was among 10 killed when two helicopters collided during filming of a reality television show in Argentina yesterday.

The deadly crash occurred outside Villa Castelli in Argentina's La Rioja province during filming for the French reality TV series Dropped.

Retired swimmer Muffat was to be a contestant on the show, which is a survival-style endurance program with several versions across Europe.

The Associated Press has reported that La Rioja government officials say she was riding in one of two helicopters when they crashed into one another and exploded.

A statement from officials confirmed Muffat was among the 10 dead, which included eight French citizens and two Argentinean pilots.


French Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine and sailor Florence Arthaud, also died.

The cause of the crash was not immediately determined.

The 25-year-old Muffat was an Olympian in 2008 and 2012.

She won a gold medal in the women's 400 metre freestyle at the 2012 Olympics in London, setting a Games record time.