father, son die in alps on the Glacier des Bossons on Mont Blanc.

A 48 year old British father, hiking in the French Alps with his 12 year old son, fell to his death after calling rescuers on Saturday around 2 p.m. He stated his son had fallen off a cliff on the Glacier des Bossons on Mont Blanc.

The call was abruptly cut off and rescuers had a difficult time tracing where the call had come from. After an extended search using a rescue helicopter, the bodies of both victims were found on Sunday morning about 7:40 p.m.

Piecing together information, rescue officials have determined that the two were hiking without proper equipment in an area with deep, snow covered trails. The boy apparently fell off a cliff, tumbling several hundred feet. The father fell in the same area after talking to rescuers.

The names of the British pair have yet to be established, but French and British authorities are working on their identities so that next of kin can be notified.

Captain Patrice Ribes, deputy commander of mountain rescue at Chamonix, said the pair arrived at Chamonix on Saturday, planning to stay the weekend. The walking trail they chose is very popular in the summer months, but quite treacherous in the winter.