French downhill skier Poisson dies in training crash at Nakiska

PARIS — French downhill skier David Poisson, a former medallist at the world championships, died on Monday following a training crash in Canada. He was 35.

The French Ski Federation said Poisson, who won the downhill bronze medal at the 2013 worlds, was training in the Canadian resort of Nakiska for World Cup races in North America. The federation did not elaborate.

An official with emergency medical services from nearby Calgary said a call came in midmorning Monday.

“When we arrived we assessed an individual and determined him deceased on scene,” said Calgary EMS spokesman Adam Loria.

“There was no chance for a hospital. We initially called out STARS [air ambulance] but once we made the determination we did stand the helicopter down.”

Alberta RCMP said in a statement that the French skier had died “as a result of injuries received after the skier caught an edge and crashed through the safety netting, striking a tree.”

“Medical personal and team doctor were at the scene immediately after the accident but were unable to resuscitate him,” the release said.

French sports minister Laura Flessel expressed her “sadness” and said she will look carefully into the circumstances of the crash.

Poisson, nicknamed “Caillou” [“small stone”], was a popular figure on the World Cup circuit. He secured his only World Cup podium in 2015 when he came third in the Santa Caterina downhill in Italy.