Two Britons fall to their deaths in Alps

The Mont Blanc massif in the western Alps where the British couple fell to their deaths on Monday. Photograph: Alamy

We are know this Two Britons fall to their deaths in Alps

Two Britons have died after falling almost 300 metres (1,000ft) while climbing in the Mont Blanc massif in France.

The 38-year-old man and 20-year-old woman fell to their deaths while going up the Dent du Géant. Their families have been contacted but their names have not yet been released.

A spokesman for the emergency services in the resort town of Chamonix said that they were still trying to determine the exact circumstances of the accident, which happened on 10.30am on Monday. An avalanche has been ruled out and there was no confirmation of reports that the pair had been hit by a boulder.

The Dent du Géant, or Giant's Tooth, is 3,992 metres high and runs along the French-Italian border. It was first climbed in 1882.

A mountain rescue official in Chamonix said that the man appeared to be an experienced climber.

"The young man had experience of the mountains," he said, adding that the Dent du Géant was not particularly dangerous but carried all the potential risks associated with climbing at altitude.

Officials said that the weather was good on Monday when they were alerted by some climbers who had heard screams. The bodies were discovered after a helicopter was sent out. The two were said to have died instantly.

Climbing experts say the climb at Dent du Géant is not overly difficult, but the route is unrelentingly exposed, so climbers need to be comfortable on such terrain. The climb is a long route and takes a day.

Coppied by Guardian News and Media Limited 2010