African Soldiers Freeze To Death (France)

BBC ^ | 1-13-2004

[blam]

African soldiers freeze to death

Many African soldiers are trained in Saint-Cyr

Two African soldiers have died of hypothermia during a mountain warfare training exercise in the French Alps. The men, from Togo and Niger, died after a snowstorm prevented them from reaching their barracks, so they dug into the snow, an official said.

Seven of the 90 other soldiers on the three-week exercise organised by the elite Saint-Cyr military academy are suffering from hypothermia.

The authorities say they have opened a judicial enquiry into the deaths.

Many soldiers from France's former colonies in Africa go to the Saint-Cyr academy for military training.

"Initially weather conditions were difficult but not abnormal. But they deteriorated and one of three groups taking part bivouacked in a makeshift shelter. When checks were made in the night, it was found that two foreign trainees from Africa had died," said defence ministry spokesman Colonel Michel Luc.

The survivors are being evacuated from the Ubaye valley, near the Italian border, where the two men died.

Three of those injured were also Africans - from Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Niger.

[Atlantic Friend]

Jeez, the poor guys. That's a peaceful death, but dying so far away from their country, that's awful.

[End Times Sentinel]

Paging Dusty Baker, white... er- black courtesy telephone please!

 

 

 

 

Owl_Eagle

" WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"

Paging Dusty Baker, white... er- black courtesy telephone please!

[JimRed]

Shouldn't the survival skills be taught BEFORE the exercise?

[Atlantic Friend]

They are, and doubly so since Alpine troops are considered an elite outfit. These guys were probably not used to such low temperatures and, besides, they were faced with a full-scale storm, if what I heard is right.

[Bringbackthedraft]

What next? Jungle training for eskimos?

[DeuceTraveler]

Soldiers die in training. It happens. Still, I hope that the examination of the incidents that led to the deaths lead to future precautions that are not detrimental to training.

[risk]

Our deepest condolences, A.F. May their brave souls rest in peace.