French rugby captain and friends die in avalanche
A French rugby captain, Quentin Philippe, and two of his friends were killed after being caught in an avalanche last Sunday, reports BritPanorama.
The 29-year-old Philippe was skiing with friends Hugo Neuville, 31, and Alexis Rassat, 35, when the avalanche struck, claiming all three lives. One man was found dead at the scene, while another died shortly after arriving at the hospital. The third friend succumbed to hypothermia and cardiac arrest on Monday.
Philippe captained Annecy-le-Vieux RC, a French rugby union club, which has since released a statement expressing its sincere condolences. In light of the tragedy, the club has postponed its league match, initially scheduled for Sunday.
The club’s statement read: “Our valiant and steadfast captain has passed away. This Sunday, a postponed league match, our player Quentin Philippe was caught in an avalanche near Courmayeur. He did not survive.” The statement added that the club is “devastated” and acknowledged Philippe’s pivotal role in its recent successes, including league titles and reaching the French championship semi-finals.
Philippe, described as a strategist who motivated his teammates, had been the captain since the beginning of this challenging season. The club concluded its statement with condolences to his family and confirmed a public tribute scheduled for March 1 at the Stade des Glaisins during a match against SC Couchois.
Despite the sorrow, the club intends to honor Philippe’s memory by continuing its Fédérale 3 season.
In a sport where camaraderie often translates to shared grief, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks athletes face even in their leisure time.
