Pierre Wolniktwo-time world champion free flightdied last Saturday, February 7, in one of the least desired episodes of his discipline. After jumping from a helicopter in a mountain range in the French Alps, the parachute he was wearing did not open.
In this way, the 37 year old young man He was left with no options to save himself: hit the ground at high speed in the municipality of Bossons. The emergency services immediately came, but they could do nothing for his life.
Wolnik had made a daring jump with a wingsuit –known in Spanish as a gliding suit- on Mont Blanc, in the department of Haute-Savoie. This mountain, with an altitude of 4,800 meters, is a cradle of mountaineering in Europe.
The unknown fault in the French Alps
On what would be a fateful afternoon, after a few seconds where everything seemed to be going well, Wolnik’s parachute did not open for a while. reason that remains unknownaccording to the French media TF1info.
your body He was transported in a Civil Security helicopter after brutally hitting the ground. Meanwhile, investigators are trying to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
His early departure caused a warm farewell, which involved the highest authorities in his field. Among them, Yves-Marie Guillaud, president of the French Federation of Skydiving (FFP) made his pain public.
“The entire sports skydiving community cries the loss of a talented young man with such a kind smile«wrote the sports authority in his Facebookas can be read in a screenshot made by the aforementioned news portal.
This year, the young man formed French team for the FAI World Championshipone of the most prominent aerial acrobatics competitions. He had already been crowned with the biggest title in his sport in 2022 y 2024the media reported Le Figaro.
Besides, He had worked as a video recording technician for the FFP.
The same institution noted that Wolnik will be “remembered as a teammate whose presence will be forever engraved in the memories of those around him.”
The French athlete, born in 1988, was also coach for flight enthusiastsin air tunnels. In his classes, taught in a specialized center in the city of Lyon –which were immortalized in his Instagram-, acted as an instructor for all levels.
On his social networks, Wolnik used to regularly post videos of his exploits. There he received numerous praises, both from his colleagues and from the amateur public.
The incredible images of the activity he carried out privately appear in large quantities on his profile account. “Take the time to practice inverted flight maneuvers, improve your movements or simply perfect your dynamic technique,” Wolnik promoted in one of the posts.
On the other hand, in heartfelt farewell words, his own sports community defined him as and «exceptional parachutist«according to statements rescued by TF1info.
