World Cup skier Jean Daniel Pession and his girlfriend Elisa Arlian tragically died after falling 2,300 feet off a mountain in Italy.

The Italian Winter Sports Federation confirmed the devastating incident, which occurred on June 1 on Mount Zerbion, a popular skiing peak in Aosta Valley, where the couple had gone for a hike. When Pession, 28, and Arlian, 27, did not return, their families became alarmed and contacted authorities, prompting the dispatch of three helicopters to search for them.

Tragically, their bodies were reportedly found together, buried in the snow hours later. It is believed they fell over 2,000 feet. Pession was an emerging talent in Italian skiing, having placed 15th in the 2021 World Cup finals and 22nd in the 2022 World Championship in France. Arlian was a ski instructor and teacher.

“This is a terrible tragedy for the world of winter sports, especially speed skiing,” said Flavio Roda, the President of the Italian Winter Sports Federation. “On behalf of the entire Federation, I extend our deepest condolences to the Pession family during this unimaginable time of grief.”