Six people tragically died of exposure in the French Alps this week in three separate incidents.

One party of four which included a British man died from cold and exhaustion after becoming lost attempting to climb Mount Blanc despite treacherous weather forecasts.

A police spokesman in the region told press "The victims did not possess any tent and had not dug a hole to protect themselves from the 75mph wind and the snowfall. Their equipment was not sufficient to face such brutal change in the weather".

In another incident a climber from Belgium died across the border in the Italian Alps while a sixth person died 25 miles to the east of Mont Blanc.

Authorities in the region say that they have to deal with up to 800 emergency calls a day concerning visitors and climbers to the area who arrive ill prepared for the conditions.

Even in summer temperatures in the Alps can plummet suddenly to less than minus 15c with strong icy winds whipping up sudden blizzards and many visitors arrive to climb and explore the mountains kitted out with just summer clothing.


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