World Cup skier Jean Daniel Pession and his girlfriend fall 2,300ft to their death after tragic mountain accident

Ski star Jean Daniel Pession and his girlfriend, Elisa Arlian, tragically died after falling more than 2,00 feet off a mountain in Italy.

The couple are believed to have been on a hike on Mount Zerbion, a popular Alpine spot for skiers in the Aosta Valley.

Pession, just 28, previously finished 15th in the skiing World Cup. The Italian Winter Sports Federation confirmed the awful news over the weekend.

'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,' the federation said in a statement.

'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.'

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