World Cup skier Jean Daniel Pession 28-year-old was a member of the Italian national speed skiing team, while his 26-year-old girlfriend Elisa Arlian was a ski instructor and a school teacher. They passed away following a fatal 2,300 ft fall from a mountain in Italy, reported local media. The incident occurred on Mount Zerbion, located above the resort village of Champoluc in Italy's Aosta Valley region. According to the report, rescuers used the mobile phone signal of the couple to trace their location. When they finally located the skiers, the rescue team found them tied together. Tying each other together is a common practice among mountain scalers. Expressing grief at the news, Aosta Valley's regional council president Alberto Bertin called it a "moment of profound sadness".