Two base jumpers killed in French Alps

18 Avqust 2014 19:32 (UTC+04:00)

Two base jumpers have died in separate accidents in the French Alps on Sunday, bringing the death toll of the extreme sport in August to four.

Rescue workers said a man from Australia is believed to have died on impact after jumping from an 8,500 feet (2,600m) peak near Chamonix.

A French man died shortly after in a similar accident in Mont Granier.

Base jumping is an extreme sport and carries far more risk than skydiving, according to a Norwegian study.

Police told French news agency AFP that the Australian man, 33, was wearing a wingsuit at the time, was found "several hundred metres below [the peak] in a wooded area," and probably died on impact.

The French base jumper was 52, and was described as "extremely experienced".