While American viewers agonized last night over who Chris Soules would select as his wife on The Bachelor season finale, the world of French reality television was stunned by a horrific accident.
A contingent of 10 sports stars filming the program Dropped were killed when two helicopters collided in mid-air while shooting footage in Argentina.
Among the victims were Olympic swimming gold medalist Camille Muffat, Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine and renowned sailor Florence Arthaud.
The fatal accident took place in the mountainous La Rioja province of northwestern Argentina.
"Apparently, the two helicopters collided as they were filming. There are no survivors," provincial spokesman Horacio Alarcon told the AFP, adding that weather conditions were fine and the cause of the crash is unknown.
French President Francois Hollande’s office has confirmed those on boar included the Muffat and Vastine, while two Argentinian pilots were among those who perished.
Muffat won a total of three medals at the 2012 London Olympics; Vastine earned Bronze in the light welterweight division of the 2008 Beijing games.
Dropped was scheduled to air on channel TF1.
It was billed as a survival-themed series in which eight athletes are left in difficult environments for an adventure-style competition, fending for themselves while trying to find their way back to civilization.
Our thoughts go out to the loved ones of the victims.