The sport of biathlon mourns the loss of a junior title holder – killed in a tragic accident.
Three people have died in a helicopter crash on Russia’s tourist-popular Kamchatka Peninsula. Authorities said the burned-out wreck was found near Mount Uson on Sunday. The biathlon junior world champion Igor Malinowski transported two passengers as a pilot. Malinovsky’s hometown on Kamchatka confirmed the death of the athlete.
The biathlete community will remember Malinowski as a great athlete, said Olle Dahlin, President of the International Biathlon Union (IBU), according to Tass agency.
Again and again deadly accidents on the peninsula
The helicopter was reported missing on Saturday. According to the media, rescue workers initially suspected that the pilot might have taken a break because of the bad weather.
Helicopter tours are one of the top tourist attractions on the underdeveloped Pacific Peninsula. Kamchatka is a dream destination for many nature lovers because of its volcanoes, geysers and thermal springs. Time and again, fatal accidents, including those involving helicopters, occur there, not least because of sudden changes in the weather.