When somebody has athletic abilities, they often try to push those abilities to the limit. Unfortunately, there are also times when it may not work out and tragedy could occur.

Tragedy struck when World Cup skier Jean Daniel Pession fell off a mountain in northern Italy and died. The 28-year-old skier was with his girlfriend, Elisa Arlian, who also died at the age of 26.

The couple set off to hike to the top of Mount Zerbion and probably fell about 2300 feet from the summit. After falling into the void, they were covered with snow.

Hours of searching were spent to find the couple and eventually, they were able to find them using a signal from their cell phone. They were close to each other, not very far from the summit.

According to the reports from the rescuers, the couple was still tied together, almost as if they were in a final embrace.

They embarked on their journey early in the morning and they were familiar with the peaks where they were hiking. The family became concerned when they didn’t see them coming home, so they called for help.

Helicopters were dispatched to the area immediately and when rescuers were lowered from the helicopter, they found them tied together.

The Italian Winter Sports Federation released a statement on their website. It said, in part, “Jean Daniel Pession, a twenty-eight-year-old member of the World Cup team, lost his life in a tragic mountain accident that occurred above Champoluc (Ao). His girlfriend also died together with Pession.”

“President Flavio Roda and the entire Federation express their condolences to Pession family for this tragic misfortune.”

May they both rest in peace.