Yachtswoman Florence Arthaud has been killed in a helicopter crash in Argentina while filming a reality TV show about endurance and survival.

The 57-year-old, who previously won both the Route du Rhum and Transpacific, was among three of France’s sporting stars killed in the crash on Monday afternoon when two helicopters collided in mid-air shortly after takeoff.

Olympic athletes Camille Muffat and Alexis Vastine were also killed during the incident near the Andes Mountains, 700 miles north of Buenos Aires.

A total of ten people were killed in the crash, including several film crew and two pilots, eight of them French nationals.

It’s not yet known why the collision happened but investigations into the incident are underway.

The three athletes had been filming Dropped, an endurance programme for French TV station TF1 when the accident occurred.

The show sees contestants blindfolded before being left in a remote location, where they are then tasked with finding their way back to civilisation.

Arthaud was one of the world’s most successful female sailors, winning the Route du Rhum on her boat Pierre 1er in 1990, and the Transpacific in 1997 with Bruno Peyron.

The French President Francois Hollande offered his condolences to the families and friends of the victims, saying: “The sudden death of our compatriots is an immense sadness.”

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Florence Arthaud

Sailing stars have also paid tribute to the sailor, with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston saying on Twitter: “Florence Arthaud was the top French lady sailor and right up there with the best, winning the RDR. A very special person whom we shall miss.”