Santorini’s azure domes are some of the world’s most instantly recognisable sights. Every year travellers flock to the Aegean island for its dramatic calderas and cliffs, unique volcanic beaches such as the Mars-like Red Beach, sapphire-blue waters, swish seafront restaurants and chic independent boutiques. The island is dotted with lovely hotels but here are some of the nicest villas for your own home on the much-loved island Only two minutes away from the centre of the cliffside Firostefani village this creamy white abode is heavenly in both senses of the word Though interiors are unfussy and uncomplicated a strong sense of luxury still permeates the crisp The pièce de résistance is the infinity pool offering panoramic views of the island’s volcano against a backdrop of a rippling sheet of blue As well as visiting village restaurants and bars for a taste of homely Greek cooking take the Santorini cable car down to Skala for postcard views or study relics from the islands’s Bronze Age at the prehistoric history museum At Villa Etheras you’re surrounded by all of Santorini’s defining elements for a stay immersed in the island’s distinctive topography The villa is carved into hillside rock formations and the views of the crystalline caldera and coast will fill you with awe the pure bright air of the Greek gods the villa takes its name from The sea-facing infinity pool calls for a swim at any time of day and the monochrome interiors artfully infuse natural elements such as bathroom amenities carved from rugged rock pieces The villa is nicely secluded within the slow-paced cliffside village of Firostefani Whilst you’ll quickly fall into the easygoing rhythm of the local area Fira is only a short drive away for a little more hustle and bustle Situated in the elevated historical village of Pyrgos you can enjoy panoramic views of much of Santorini’s assorted landscapes from this majestic One of sprawling property’s most stunning features (of which there are many!) is the igloo-like cave pool with silver-blue waters complementing the imperfectly curved snow-white walls is the perfect setting for trying out yaya-style local recipes a freestanding copper bath and accented stone walls snug hideaways and dreamy patios across three floors the refinement that defines the house flows into its outdoor spaces too Sleeps: 10Price: From around £2,690 for one to three nights a sauna and steam room and a range of relaxation spots across two floors watching the early morning sun take hold over fresh fruit and coffee and afternoons splashing about with friends or family in the curved pool looking out over the vastness of the Aegean Sea The villa’s Cycladic architectural and design features like its milky walls and curved ceilings are accented with classical style decorations like bronze gold figurines and chandeliers You’ll be close to the ancient ruins of Akrotiri’s archaeological site and a 10-minute walk away from local tavernas for a relaxed traditional dinner Pyrgos KallistisBest for: showstopping views You’ll find this smart and sparkling two-bedroom villa in Pyrgos village one of the island’s best preserved Cycladic settlements crawling up the slopes of Mount Prophet Elias The pristine interiors are washed in classic Santorini white in harmony with the surrounding environment Whether you’re gliding into your infinity pool overlooking charcoal-coloured mountains or taking in the ethereal sea view from your master bedroom OiaBest for: Traditional Cycladic cave house architecture this cavernous haven is a perfect romantic hideout There’s a delightful freshness to the nautical colour scheme mirroring the cerulean and cobalt hues of the surrounding sea and sky views You’ll feel like you’re floating through the clouds wading through the rooftop infinity pool With built-in seating neatly incorporated across the property’s gently flowing partitions there’s always somewhere to pause and take in the pure island air or the striking beauty of a lava-orange Santorini sunset the archaeological treasures of Akroti are nearby as are Oia’s swanky boutiques and reverberating bars Sleeps: twoPrice: From around £1,793 for one to three nights Pirgos KallistisBest for: A homely couple’s retreat Right in the heart of Pyrgos Kallistis (around 250 metres from the central square) Andromaches Villa has a comforting and homely feel livened by pops of brick-red and light brown wooden furniture make for characterful interiors a pleasant slight deviation from the island’s blue and white uniform The view from your room of the pool (which seamlessly blends into the blues of the sea and sky) will be simultaneously rousing and calming Sleeps: TwoPrice: From around £124 per night a quieter beach on the islands’s northern coast this charming house is a top choice for peace and privacy Its warm and soulful interiors such as painted wooden shutters and panelling blending wheat colours with chalky pastels gives the space a mellow cottage-like feel Looking out of the blue and red framed windows you might forget that you’re not actually on a boat given the proximity to gently sloshing waves dip into the hydromassage pool right at the corner of the roof terrace with a cocktail and lose yourself in the views of the blue abyss of the neighbouring sea Oia town is only a 5-minute drive away for the quintessential Santorini sights of whitewashed buildings frilled with Bougainvillea the traditional hamlet of Foinika is around 20 minutes away on foot Sleeps: fourPrice: From around £100 per night Sleeps: eightPrice: From around £672 per night, with a two-night minimum Print Reporting from Buenos Aires — Investigators on Tuesday recovered the bodies of 10 people including three celebrated French athletes who were killed when two helicopters collided during filming of a reality TV program in a remote part of Argentina which occurred Monday in the northwestern province of La Rioja raised new questions about the safety of adventure-style programs which have suffered a number of fatal accidents in recent years The cause of the crash was not immediately known but provincial officials said weather was not believed to be a factor and it’s believed that they must have collided,” La Rioja’s secretary of security Amateur footage shared by Argentine media showed what appeared to be the helicopters flying together at low altitude; then one veers into the path of the other and both plummet to the ground The bodies were removed from the charred wreckage near Villa Castelli swimmer Camille Muffat and boxer Alexis Vastine the two Argentine pilots and five French members of the production crew It was the second time in two years that a program produced by Adventure Line Productions for the popular French television network TF1 has suffered fatalities a 25-year-old contestant died of a heart attack during filming for the long-running endurance show “Koh-Lanta” in Cambodia said he did not know the exact circumstances of Monday’s crash very sad,” he told the French radio network RTL and there was on the part of the champions great enthusiasm for this adventure game.” France’s Air Transport Gendarmerie opened an inquiry into the crash and two French aviation experts were dispatched to the scene to join the Argentine probe They will be accompanied by experts from Airbus whose helicopter subsidiary built the aircraft Local news reports said a mostly French crew numbering about 80 people had been working in the area for several days which flies contestants blindfolded to a remote location and has them find their way back to civilization France was plunged into mourning for three sports champions who in the words of President Francois Hollande “shone for France.” “They are dead because they wanted to push boundaries explore new countries and lead the way for others,” Hollande told reporters at the Elysee Palace in Paris French Prime Minister Manuel Valls tweeted his “immense pain after this tragedy.” “All of France is grieving this morning,” he said president of the International Olympic Committee said the world of sport and the Olympic family had lost three key members “They were all not only champions in their sport but also contributed greatly as role models,” he said won a gold medal and set an Olympic record in the 400-meter freestyle at the 2012 London Games She also won a silver medal in the 200-meter freestyle and was part of France’s bronze-winning 800-meter freestyle relay “She had dedicated a lot of her life to swimming .. and her objective since her retirement was to make a success of her [personal] life,” her friend and agent Sophie Kamoun told the Associated Press “She had a lot of projects that made her happy said she had left home happy and loved doing the program “People often called Camille ‘Madame 100%’ because she won everything -- almost everything,” he said in a tearful television interview won a bronze medal in the light-welterweight division at the 2008 Beijing Olympics His 21-year-old sister died in a car accident in January and Vastine reportedly decided to appear on “Dropped” to help him deal with the loss said he learned about the fatal helicopter crash on the news I do not know,” he was quoted as saying by the French newspaper Le Parisien “I feel like giving up but I’m not allowed was the first woman to win the Route du Rhum a solo yacht race across the Atlantic Ocean which starts in San Pedro and ends in Honolulu “It’s a very sad end for a woman who was all about joy all about life,” friend and fellow sailor Philippe Poupon told RTL both graduates of Argentine military schools with long experience flying helicopters were identified by local authorities as Roberto Abate and Juan Carlos Castillo The helicopters were provided by the provinces of La Rioja and Santiago del Estero who said the model was the “best in the world” for high mountain flying The other victims were identified in French news reports as Laurent Sbasnik Filming was suspended and the remaining contestants and crew were heading home a two-time Premier League and FA Cup champion with Arsenal Special correspondents D’Alessandro reported from Buenos Aires and Boyle from London Staff writer Zavis reported from Los Angeles Staff writer Houston Mitchell contributed from Los Angeles and special correspondent Chris Kraul from Bogota For more international news, follow @alexzavis on Twitter World & Nation Subscribe for unlimited access Site Map French Olympians among 10 dead in Argentina air crashThe Associated PressBUENOS AIRES - Two helicopters carrying French sports stars filming a popular European reality show crashed in a remote part of Argentina including two Olympic medal winners and a sailing champion The helicopters apparently collided in the air Monday near Villa Castelli in La Rioja province about 730 miles (1,170 kilometers) northwest of Buenos Aires La Rioja Secretary of Security Cesar Angulo told TN television All 10 people on board - eight French nationals and two Argentine pilots - were killed "An explosion occurred and it's believed that they collided," said Angulo Photographs showed the burning and smoking wreckage of the helicopters on the ground in dry scrubland Among the dead were French Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Camille Muffat Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine and sailor Florence Arthaud according to a statement from La Rioja's government They were taking part in the reality show "Dropped." The deaths are likely to place new attention on the risks involved with reality TV shows which have been highly popular and sometimes involve taking celebrities and others to far-flung locations to faces challenges against the natural elements - both physical and mental TF1 - France's best-known private-sector network which aired the show - canceled the remaining season of the "Survivor"-like reality show "Koh Lanta" after a 25-year-old participant died of a heart attack on the first day of filming French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said France's foreign ministry is in contact with authorities in Argentina to determine what caused the crash that its teams were "devastated and share the deep pain of the families and loved ones." "We are in contact with the production teams on site (and) with the French and Argentine authorities We will give more information as soon as possible," the producers added Angulo said one of the helicopters belonged to La Rioja province and the other belonged to neighboring Santiago del Estero province "The helicopter from La Rioja was a Eurocopter with a capacity to hold six people It appears to have brushed against the other helicopter from Santiago del Estero shortly after takeoff," the statement from the provincial government said according to the Argentine news agency Telam sparsely populated area is on the edge of the Andes mountain range that separates Argentina and Chile The news of the deaths plunged the French sports world into mourning "The brutal demise of our compatriots is an immense sadness," said French President Francois Hollande in a statement French Secretary of State for Sport Thierry Braillard said on the BFM TV channel "Some had finished their careers and one was dreaming of gold in Rio French sport has lost three stars this morning." won the gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle at the Olympic Games in 2012 adding a silver medal in the 200-meter freestyle and a bronze in the 4 by 200-meter freestyle relay She had since retired from swimming to focus on her personal life "Camille was quite a shy and reserved person But when it was time for a bit of a laugh she was always there," said Olympic gold medalist Amaury Leveaux the president of the Nice swimming club in southern France where Muffat used to swim "I could not believe it and then the news was confirmed What a terrible tragedy," said Papazian on BFM television Vastine won a bronze medal at the 2008 Games in Beijing but his semifinal loss to Manuel Felix Diaz was hit by controversy as he was docked points by the referee in the final round Vastine broke down in tears after the defeat he lost in the quarterfinals at the London Games also amid controversy when he drew on points against Taras Shelestyuk of Ukraine but lost on the countback rule she won the famed Route du Rhum race - a trans-Atlantic single-handed yacht race between Brittany and the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe - on her boat Pierre 1er Former France and Arsenal striker Sylvain Wiltord former Olympic swimming champion Alain Bernard and veteran cyclist Jeannie Longo are among the other French athletes who took part in the show Other French athletes spoke of their sorrow over the loss "I don't have words to express the pain I feel the tears are flowing and won't stop," said former French sprinter Muriel Hurtis - a gold medalist in the 4 x 100 relay at the 2003 world championships The crew had arrived on Sunday in Villa Castelli where it had previously filmed a version of "Dropped" for Switzerland and Denmark The Argentine statement identified the remaining victims as Laurent Sbasnik as well as Argentine pilots Juan Carlos Castillo and Roberto Abate Associated Press sports writer Jerome Pugmire in Paris contributed to this report You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Argentina probes copter crash as France mourns dead athletesAssociated PressVILLA CASTELLI Argentina (AP) - Investigators picked through the wreckage of two helicopters Tuesday bits of paper and other charred and unrecognizable items as France mourned the loss of prominent athletes in the dual crash in the Andean foothills The eight French nationals and two Argentine pilots on the two aircraft were killed when they collided and burst into flames shortly after taking off Monday near the remote settlement of Villa Castelli in northwestern Argentina Among the victims were Olympic champion swimmer Camille Muffat Olympic bronze-medalist boxer Alexis Vastine and pioneering sailor Florence Arthaud They were contestants on the reality TV show "Dropped," which was being shot in the sparsely populated region Expressions of grief poured in from French athletes and officials who said he felt "immense sadness." The International Olympic Committee announced it would fly its flag at half-staff for three days French officials said they would work with Argentine investigators to determine the cause of the accident told The Associated Press that both pilots were highly trained and he speculated that afternoon sun and strong winds might have been a factor At the moment of impact "the sun was setting on the Andes mountain range directly in front of them Also this is an area with wind gusts," Gorkich said A widely circulated video shows the blades of one helicopter hitting the rails of the second causing both aircraft to lose control and crash The two Eurocopters crashed about 50 feet (15 meters) apart and were destroyed One aircraft was so charred that only the blades were recognizable fondly recalled the 25-year-old swimmer who won gold in the 400-meter freestyle as well as a silver and a bronze at the 2012 London Olympics the former technical director of the French Boxing Federation "It feels like I've lost a member of my family won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing lost in the quarterfinals four years later in London and was looking to compete again at the Olympics next year in Rio de Janeiro she became the first woman to win the famed Route du Rhum race a trans-Atlantic single-handed yacht race between Brittany and the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe "She was a fighter," said French sailor Jean-Luc Van Den Heede who was second in the Route du Rhum race in 1998 "At the time it was extraordinary because not many women were doing this The other French victims were identified as Laurent Sbasnik The pilots were Juan Carlos Castillo and Roberto Abate told television station Todo Noticias that her husband was a veteran of the Falklands War in 1982 and had extensive experience flying helicopters including in challenging places like Antarctica she said her husband was "extremely happy" because he had recently found out he was going to be a grandfather The crew for "Dropped" arrived Sunday in Villa Castelli where it had previously filmed a version of the reality show for Switzerland and Denmark The crash was one the deadliest incidents yet related to reality TV shows some of which involve taking celebrities and others to far-flung places to face challenges both physical and mental which is France's leading private-sector network It canceled another reality show two years ago after a 25-year-old participant died of a heart attack on the first day of filming in Cambodia The Adventure Line Productions company was behind both programs it said its staffers were "devastated" by the helicopter accident and "share the deep pain of the families and loved ones." Reality TV shows can appeal to former adrenaline-powered star athletes who are looking for new challenges or fun told i-Tele cable news channel that Muffat had been instructed not to reveal details about the show's filming But she "told everybody that it was great," he said Victor Caivano and Almudena Calatrava in Buenos Aires and Jamey Keaton and Jerome Pugmire in Paris contributed to this report Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Subscribe to BuzzFeed Daily NewsletterCaret DownFrench TV Cast Olympians Killed In Mid-Air Helicopter Crash In ArgentinaAt least eight of the 10 passengers killed in the collision were French nationals involved in the reality television show Dropped and Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine were among those killed by Michelle Broder Van DykeBuzzFeed News Reporter "An explosion occurred and it's believed that they must have collided," Angulo said "Aeronautical experts will have to determine that." The first season was filmed in Mexico, Alaska, the Malaysian jungle, and Namibia's Skeleton Coast, according to the industry website Television Business International Shooting for the second season of Dropped began in late February in Ushuaia, at the southern tip of Argentina in Patagonia, and then moved to La Rioja, The Guardian reported The cast for Dropped included soccer star Sylvain Wiltord, boxer Alexis Vastine, cyclist Jeannie Longo, sailor Florence Arthaud, snowboarder Anne-Flore Marxer, skater Philippe Candeloro, and swimmers Alain Bernard and Camille Muffat, Le Parisien reported Muffat won gold in the 400-meter freestyle and bronze in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay She retired from professional swimming last year to focus on her personal life and other cast members were also reportedly not involved in the crash je ne veux rien dire #Tristesse #Pleurs #JesuisàParis "The brutal loss of our compatriots is an immense sadness," he said, according to Le Monde. The French authorities have opened their own investigation into the crash, with two technical investigators traveling to the scene on Tuesday. BuzzFeed News has reached out to Zodiak Media, which is producing the reality television show, for comment. Michelle Broder Van DykeBuzzFeed News Reporter Background: BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 are the two recently approved mRNA-based vaccines against COVID-19 which has shown excellent safety and efficacy. Preliminary data about specific and neutralizing antibodies is available covering the first 100 days after vaccination. Methods: We reviewed all the publications regarding the immunologic consequences of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 vaccination. A summary of specific antibodies concentration and neutralizing antibodies titers elicited by each vaccine is provided. Results: BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 displayed a reassuring safety and efficacy profile, with the latter above 94%. They can elicit specific antibodies titers and neutralizing antibodies concentrations that are far superior from those observed among COVID-19 human convalescent serum, across a wide span of age, for at least 100 days after vaccination. Moreover, the vaccine-induced T cellular response is oriented toward a TH1 response and no evidence of vaccine-enhanced disease have been reported. Discussion: BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 can elicit specific antibodies titers and neutralizing antibodies concentrations above those observed among COVID-19 human convalescent serum in the first 100 days after vaccination. Data about vaccine efficacy in those with previous COVID-19 or immunocompromised is still limited. Volume 12 - 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.657711 Background: BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 are the two recently approved mRNA-based vaccines against COVID-19 which has shown excellent safety and efficacy Preliminary data about specific and neutralizing antibodies is available covering the first 100 days after vaccination Methods: We reviewed all the publications regarding the immunologic consequences of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 vaccination A summary of specific antibodies concentration and neutralizing antibodies titers elicited by each vaccine is provided Results: BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 displayed a reassuring safety and efficacy profile They can elicit specific antibodies titers and neutralizing antibodies concentrations that are far superior from those observed among COVID-19 human convalescent serum the vaccine-induced T cellular response is oriented toward a TH1 response and no evidence of vaccine-enhanced disease have been reported Discussion: BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 can elicit specific antibodies titers and neutralizing antibodies concentrations above those observed among COVID-19 human convalescent serum in the first 100 days after vaccination Data about vaccine efficacy in those with previous COVID-19 or immunocompromised is still limited Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the beta-coronavirus responsible for the disease called Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Currently, SARS-CoV-2 has infected over 75 million people and has caused 1.6 million deaths (1) Mass prophylactic vaccination is probably the only viable path to cost-effectively curb out the pandemic High expectations are therefore placed on vaccines for both the immunization of naïve population and eventually the boosting of already achieved immunity among previously infected patients In this review, we describe the immunologic effects of BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 vaccines, updating with the results of phase III trials of mRNA vaccines the superb paper of Krammer (8). A summary of specific antibodies concentration (Table 1) and neutralizing antibodies (NA) titers (Table 2) elicited by each vaccine is provided with stratification per age of the participants and relative ratio compared to values detected in human COVID-19 convalescent serum (HCS) We also discuss the role of these vaccines among special populations and the evidence available on the feared vaccine-enhanced immune response Vaccine-induced IgG concentrations from available studies of BNT162b1 Vaccine-induced virus neutralization titers from available studies of BNT162b1 The first experiments on RNA inoculation in animal models date back to the 1990s (15) no RNA-based vaccine has never been approved nor remarkable progresses have been made in their use in clinical trials The concept behind the use of RNA–either self-replicating or not– the RNA) carrying the genetic information coding for the antigen which will be produced via the ribosomal machineries of the host cells rather than injecting the antigen itself to trigger the immune response Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, besides RNA vaccines, several “next-generation” vaccine platforms have been employed, like: viral vectors, DNA vaccine, and antigen-presenting cells (16) only two non-self-replicating mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 have been conditionally approved by independent regulatory agencies BNT162b1 is not anchored on the membrane like BNT162b2 but instead secreted In a Phase I/II study (NCT04368728) conducted among 45 adult participants with 18–55 years of age, BNT162b1 was administered at doses of 10 or 30 μg in two administrations 21 days apart (9) Twelve participants received a single 100 μg dose at day 1 and other 9 participants received placebo Robust immunogenicity was documented with all vaccine doses geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) of RBD-binding IgG ranged from 534 to 1,778 U·ml−1 compared to a value of 602 U·ml−1 observed in a panel of 38 HCS drawn at least 14 days after a PCR-confirmed diagnosis Seven days after administration of the second dose the GMC of RBD-binding IgG was ~8.0–50 times higher the GMC of HCS and remained far superior also at the last evaluation performed This higher vaccine-induced GMC of RBD-binding IgG compared to GMC of HCS can be attributed to epitope-binding antibodies that are exposed to the RBD immunogen expressed after vaccination but are inaccessible to antibodies in RBDs that are embedded in the tips of SARS-CoV-2 virions during the infection Regarding the geometric mean titer (GMT) of NA this after the second dose of 10 and 30 μg was 1.8 and 2.8 times the GMT of the serum panel from HCS At day 35 (i.e.,14 days after the second dose) This is consistent with the antibody affinity maturation process Comparable results were obtained in a second placebo-controlled, observer-blinded, dose-escalation, phase 1 trial (NCT04368728), which compared the safety and immunogenicity of BNT162b1 and BNT162b2 among 195 adults aged 18–55 or 65–85 years (10) with a 21-day interval between doses; in one group (100 μg of BNT162b1) The 50% neutralizing GMTs for the two vaccines was between 1.7 and 4.6 times the GMT of the HCS among participants aged 18–55 years and 1.1–2.2 times the GMT of HCS among subjects aged 65–85 Immunogenicity was reduced in those older than 65 years of age compared to younger participants but remained relevant BNT162b2 was associated with a lower incidence and severity of systemic reactions than BNT162b1 and therefore was chosen for advancing to phase II/III studies Clearly, the mere ability to generate specific antibodies for the epitope encoded by the vaccine alone is not indicative of efficacy in protecting against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, the efficacy and safety of BNT162b2 were verified in a large multinational, placebo-controlled, observer-blinded, efficacy trial (NCT04368728) which involved 43,548 participants (20) in participants without evidence of previous infection eight cases of COVID-19 were recorded starting 7 days after the administration of the second dose among vaccinated and 162 cases among those who had received the placebo BNT162b2 showed 95% efficacy [95% credible interval (CI) It is interesting to note that between first and second dose 39 cases of COVID-19 were observed in the BNT162b2 arm and 82 cases in the placebo one with an efficacy of 52% during this interval This indicates early protection by the vaccine which appears from 12 days after the first dose Although a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection represented an exclusion criterion from the study some subjects with previous COVID-19 were enrolled (3,614/40,137; 9%) Including also these participants in the analysis nine cases of COVID-19 were observed among vaccine recipients and 169 among placebo recipients Recently, the results of the randomized and controlled phase III study (NCT04470427) have been published. The study assessed mRNA-1273 at a dose of 100 μg, administered twice 28 days apart, for the prevention of COVID-19 (26) A total of 30,420 participants were enrolled of which 2.2% had a serologic or virologic data at enrolment compatible with previous COVID-19 Among participants who had received placebo 11 observed in participants who had received mRNA-1273 suggesting a vaccine efficacy of 94.1% (95% CI The efficacy of the vaccine was also confirmed in subgroups of participants such as those with previous COVID-19 A widely heterogenous group, immunocompromised patients can overall be regarded as a population of special interest for vaccine programs, as they may be at higher risk for COVID-19 than the general population (27) but, however, may not respond as well to the vaccine due to several alterations of the physiologic immune response (28) Data is not currently available to establish vaccine safety and efficacy of the approved vaccines in these groups Despite data remaining limited, people living with HIV (PLHIV) infection were included in mRNA COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials. In the NCT04368728 trial (10), a total 121 PLHIV (0.3%) were included, 59 receiving BNT162b2 and 62 receiving placebo. In the NCT04470427 trial (23) a total 179 PLHIV (0.6%) were included at baseline 87 in the mRNA-1273 arm and 92 in the placebo arm the studies do not report safety and efficacy data for this subset nor immunologic details with specific concern of a SARS-CoV-2 antibody-mediated immune enhancement and a systemic inflammatory response the currently approved mRNA-based vaccines against COVID-19 displayed a reassuring safety and efficacy profile They can elicit specific antibodies titers and NA concentrations that are far superior from those observed among HCS the vaccine-induced T cellular response is oriented toward a TH1 response and no evidence of vaccine-enhance disease have been reported that vaccine efficacy is not hampered by mutations of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein like those characterizing the UK and SA variants These results are encouraging considering the enormous number of individuals receiving immunization More data is eagerly awaited about the duration of specific and NA alongside with more detailed immunologic descriptions of humoral and cellular immunity particularly in those with a previous COVID-19 infection or immunocompromised it is mandatory to quickly define the effectiveness of those vaccines against other viral variants and the role exerted in selecting them Preliminary data shows how BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 can elicit specific antibodies titers and neutralizing antibodies concentrations above those observed among COVID-19 human convalescent serum in the first 100 days after vaccination AL wrote the first version of the manuscript All the authors revised the final version of the manuscript This work is part of the END-COVID project co-funded by Fondo di Beneficienza Intesa San Paolo The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest 1. 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Print The deaths of 10 people during the filming of a reality TV show in Argentina on Monday has drawn new attention to recurring safety issues for an entertainment genre that has suffered a number of fatal accidents in recent years The collision of two helicopters in La Rioja province killed two French Olympians and a prominent French sailor as well as members of the show’s production team They were filming a “Survivor”-like French reality show called “Dropped” at the time which has dominated French media and prompted an outpouring of condolences for the well-known athletes has a death toll that stands out among recent incidents a helicopter crash in a remote area of Los Angeles County killed three people during filming for a Discovery Channel reality show That crash was the worst film set accident in California since the 1982 deaths of actor Vic Morrow and two children who were killed in a helicopter crash while filming “Twilight Zone: The Movie.” a co-executive producer was also seriously injured after being thrown from a boat into a murky river while filming “Bamazon,” a series for the History channel about out-of-work Alabama construction workers mining for gold in a rain forest in Guyana an employee of the long-running reality show “Cops” was accidentally shot and killed by police officers during a taping in Omaha The cameraman was struck while trying to film a robbery Safety questions have been raised about feature film sets as well a freight train in Georgia plowed into crew members filming “Midnight Rider,” a movie about rock musician Gregg Allman The crash left a production assistant dead and that film’s director pleaded guilty this week to charges that included manslaughter and criminal trespassing Many safety mishaps on sets go unreported because crew members sign nondisclosure agreements and fear being blacklisted if they file lawsuits Record-keeping can be muddled by the fact that many of the shows are nonunion and workers are often classified as independent contractors Occupational Safety and Health Administration tracks only serious accidents involving employees and has no jurisdiction if incidents occur in foreign countries Judicial authorities in Paris have opened an involuntary manslaughter investigation into Monday’s crash which is common in fatal incidents involving French citizens abroad Adventure Line Productions was producing the show Nonce Paolini, chairman and chief executive of France’s TF1, which airs the show expressed shock about the accident in an interview on French radio TF1 is among the most popular stations in the country with 8.5 million viewers who watch a range of programming The show “Dropped” focuses on celebrities being blindfolded and dropped in remote locations around the world “It’s a hard ordeal for these families and it’s a hard ordeal for all of us,” he said U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), who in 2013 was a California state senator heading the Labor and Industrial Relations Committee, warned then that “reality shows are … encouraging people to do dangerous acts.” “The problem that we’ve had is that obviously California law can’t reach out to other states or foreign countries where a lot of these shows are filmed,” Lieu said. Times staff writer Alexandra Zavis contributed to this report. As deputy managing editor for digital, Megan Garvey had broad responsibility for our digital report, including breaking news on the web, the home page, the data team and the presentation of online projects. She was promoted to the position in March 2014 and let go during an organizational restructuring in August 2017 along with other senior leaders. Entertainment & Arts Television Hollywood Inc. Bodies of French Olympians recovered in Argentina air crash AP Photo XNP501, XNP506, XLAT106, XNP202, CIR127, XLAT107, XNP201, OSW259, OBOX149, XLAT108, ENA102, XPAR103, XPAR101, XNP503, XNP502 Eds: Trims old material. AP Video. With AP Photos. VILLA CASTELLI, Argentina (AP) - Argentine Investigators plucked cellphones, bits of paper and other mostly charred and unrecognizable items on Tuesday from the ruins of two helicopters that collided while carrying prominent French athletes, an accident that left the European nation in mourning and had Argentine experts struggling to understand how two experienced pilots lost control. The helicopters crashed and burst into flame shortly after taking off Monday afternoon near the remote settlement of Villa Castelli in the Andean foothills in northwest Argentina. Officials said all aboard - eight French nationals and two Argentine pilots - were killed. Among them were Olympic champion swimmer Camille Muffat, Olympic bronze-medalist boxer Alexis Vastine, and pioneering sailor Florence Arthaud. They had been among the contestants in the reality TV show "Dropped," which was being shot in the sparsely populated region. Expressions of grief poured in from French athletes and officials, including President Francois Holland, who said he felt "immense sadness." The International Olympic Committee announced it would fly its flag at half-staff for three days. The bodies were being transported to the regional capital of La Rioja province, where autopsies would be conducted, Judge Virginia Illanes Bordon told The Associated Press. La Rioja Aviation Director Daniel Gorkich told the AP that both pilots were highly trained and speculated that afternoon sun and strong winds might have been a factor in the crash. At the moment of impact "the sun was setting on the Andes mountain range directly in front of them," said Gorkich. "Also this is an area with wind gusts." He said that what happened was "incomprehensible." The two Eurocopters came down about 50 feet (15 meters) apart and were completely destroyed. One of the aircraft was so charred that only the blades were recognizable. French officials said they would work with Argentine investigators to determine the cause of the accident, and the Paris prosecutor's office opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter. The other victims were identified as Laurent Sbasnik, Lucie Mei-Dalby, Volodia Guinard, Brice Guilbert and Edouard Gilles, as well as pilots Juan Carlos Castillo and Roberto Abate. The wife of Castillo, Cristina Alvarez, told television station Todo Noticias that her husband was a veteran of the Falklands War and had vast experience flying helicopters, including in places like Antarctica. Her voice cracking, she said her husband was "extremely happy" because he had recently found out he was going to be a grandfather. La Rioja's regional secretary of security, Cesar Angulo, said one of the helicopters belonged to the government of La Rioja province and the other to neighboring Santiago del Estero province. A widely circulated video purportedly shot at the scene shows the blades of one helicopter hitting the rails of the second, causing both aircraft to lose control and crash. Luis Solorza, press secretary for La Rioja province, told the AP he didn't know who shot the video but that authorities believed it was authentic and investigators were using it as part of their probe. Solorza said La Rioja's rents out its lone helicopter for events such as the reality show to bring in revenue. "To promote tourism, we lend out the helicopter," said Solorza, adding that the province had declared two days of mourning. The crew had arrived Sunday in Villa Castelli, where it had previously filmed a version of "Dropped" for Switzerland and Denmark, said Mayor Andres Navarrete. Muffat, 25, won gold in the 400-meter freestyle in London, plus a silver medal in the 200-meter freestyle and a bronze in the 4 by 200-meter freestyle relay. Vastine, 28, won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and lost in the quarterfinals four years later in London. But perhaps the best known was Arthaud, 57, a pioneer in sailing. In 1990, she became the first woman to win the famed Route du Rhum race, a trans-Atlantic single-handed yacht race between Brittany and the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. The crash was one the deadliest incidents yet related to reality TV shows, some of which involve taking celebrities and others to far-flung places to face challenges both physical and mental. "Dropped" was being carried by TF1 - France's leading private-sector network - which cancelled another reality show two years ago after a 25-year-old participant died of a heart attack on the first day of filming in Cambodia. The Adventure Line Productions company was behind both programs. In a statement, it said its staffers were "devastated" and "share the deep pain of the families and loved ones." Reality TV shows can appeal to former adrenaline-powered star athletes who are looking for new challenges or fun. William Forgues, Muffat's companion, told i-Tele cable news channel that she was instructed not to reveal details about the show filming, but "told everybody that it was great. She was not forced (to do things). She was where she wanted to be." Associated Press reporters Peter Prengaman, Victor Caivano and Almudena Calatrava contributed from Buenos Aires. Jamey Keaton and Jerome Pugmire reported from Paris. 2015 11:01 AM EDTThe 10 people who were killed in a helicopter crash on Monday while filming a French reality TV show in Argentina were not the first people to die in a production by Adventure Line Productions (ALP) died of a heart attack in Cambodia during a shoot for Koh-Lanta in which participants have to survive on an uninhabited island by competing for food through demanding physical challenges the show’s French location doctor Thierry Costa killed himself leaving a note saying that media reports suggesting he might have saved Babin’s life had driven him to suicide in favor of offering ever-more risky adventures for TV audiences Paris lawyer Jérémie Assous told the French news site Le Point on Tuesday that French courts had found ALP guilty of 300 counts of “breaches of labor law and safety obligations.” Assous has successfully sued ALP in recent years on behalf of hundreds of reality-show participants claiming that they were obliged to work 20-hour days the production company had confiscated their passports and telephones while filming in remote locations Yet despite the fact that French judges had repeatedly fined the company even if it rises steadily to tens of thousands of euros is not commensurate with the millions saved by not complying with the law,” Assous said the profits are huge in reality TV and help broadcast networks invest in their nonlucrative news divisions French channel TF1 bought the broadcast rights to Koh-Lanta for about €12 million ($13 million) and earns about €25 million ($27 million) a year in advertising revenue The show being filmed in Argentina was Dropped a French adaptation of a Swedish reality show that was due to launch this year on TF1 the series drops teams of adventurers — in this case sporting celebrities — blindfolded into a remote area leaving them to find their way back to civilization without the help of GPS or telephones “Two teams are dropped into the middle of nowhere,” says the promotional video on YouTube an ALP staff member told Le Point that offering top-class safety provisions for the show’s participants would increase the costs of production about threefold “If we scrupulously respect work rights shooting costs would explode,” said the employee “Safety is not a major issue for the production company.” Among those killed on Monday were swimmer Camille Muffat who won both a gold and a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics in London; boxer Alexis Vastine who won the light-welterweight bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008; and the sailor Florence Arthaud who had gained fame in her early 30s as the first woman ever to win the solo trans-Atlantic race called the Route du Rhum “Between incredulity and horror,” said the front page of Tuesday evening’s Le Monde newspaper “French sport is in mourning.” President François Hollande told reporters that the accident was “a cause of immense sadness.” One of the surviving Dropped participants a former soccer player for London’s Arsenal club I don’t want to say anything.” And William Forgues “She was very happy and it was 100% her choice to be there Contact us at letters@time.com La decisión tiene efecto inmediato tras una votación en una reunión extraordinaria del European Aquatics Bureau el 24 de abril we are discussing the madness that occurred at the Ft Lauderdale Pro Swim Marchand has a few areas of improvement to work on if he hopes to return to his Paris form at the World Championships this summer in Singapore March 09th, 2016 Europe, International, News Today marks the one year anniversary of the passing of Camille Muffat the French Olympian who earned gold in the women’s 400m freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics Muffat was a three-time Olympic medalist and former World Record Holder who retired somewhat abruptly in 2014 at just the age of 24 She was en route to film a reality TV series in Argentina when the helicopter in which she was riding collided mid-air with another resulting in her untimely death at 25 years old five members of the production staff and two Argentine pilots also perished in the tragic accident below is Muffat’s most successful individual Olympic appearance Olympic Record-setting 400m race from London Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" I remember Camille Muffat and i can tell i cry into my heart for this girls a model of fine look and her umans quality her picture is live in my memory and relive everyday in souls of Italian common people with deep love I want remember Camille with the Company of Flying lieutenant Giorgio Alessio Death in the sky by plane for collided with another plane of his team aerobatic patrol in a air show I remember this dates for hall of fame of two specials peoples: Camille Muffat legend of water races (Nice 28/10/1989 – Villa Castelli 09/03/2015) Giorgio Alessio 1st left… Read more » Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC More from Retta RaceSee All Subscribe to our newsletter and receive our latest updates! © 2025 Swim Swam Partners, LLC. All rights reserved. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Helicopter was carrying contestants on European reality TV show Dropped I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The footage shows the aircraft crashing into each other mid-air, before plummeting to the ground near Villa Castelli in La Rioja province, about 730 miles (1,170 kilometres) northwest of Buenos Aires. Separate footage shows people rushing towards black plumes of smoke on the ground in the aftermath of the collision. As part of the show, other contestants were standing blindfolded on the ground a few hundred meters from the helicopters' flight path, Reuters reports. They reportedly ran to the crash site but could not extinguish the fire. Paris has opened an investigation into the incident, according to Le Monde, which killed eight French nationals and two Argentine pilots. French Olympic gold medal swimmer Camille Muffat, Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine and sailor Florence Arthaud were among those killed. The stars were filming a popular European celebrity reality show called Dropped, which follows contestants as they attempt to find their own food and shelter in remote conditions. The cause of the collision remains unknown. Weather is not believed to be involved. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Get our news on your inbox! Suscribe x MercoPress, en Español Montevideo, May 6th 2025 - 08:54 UTC A manslaughter investigation into the helicopter crash in La Rioja province that killed eight French nationals and two Argentines was opened on Tuesday in Paris Two experts from France's crash investigation agency (BEA) were travelling to Argentina Three French sports stars: Olympic swimmer Camille Muffat yachtswoman Florence Arthaud and boxer Alexis Vastine were among 10 people killed when two helicopters collided in Argentina on Monday during the filming of a reality TV show La Rioja province authorities announced that they were to start recovering the bodies from the scene of the crash on Tuesday Judge Virgina Illanes Bordón identified the two Argentine victims as Juan Carlos Castillo (Malvinas war veteran) and Roberto Abate The identity of the French nationals was confirmed by the provincial authorities: Laurent Sbasnik “The causes of the accident will be revealed by the helicopters’ black boxes” Iillanes Bordón said to reporters The two aircrafts collided in mid-air in Villa Castelli some 200 kilometers from La Rioja’s capital city From Paris politicians and the French sports world expressed their condolences after the fatal accident “The sudden death of our fellow French nationals is a cause of immense sadness,” French President Francois Hollande's office said in a statement late Monday night town and youth affairs told RTL radio: “The whole of French sport is in mourning because we have lost three huge champions.” TF1 issued a statement expressing solidarity for the victims' families French media said filming had been suspended and the crew and other contestants were heading back to France The Olympic Movement also expressed its condolences after the loss of “three of their key members” in the accident boxer Alexis Vastine and sailor Florence Arthaud “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of these great athletes who have left us,” it said in a statement released on its website “The Olympic flag will be flown at half-mast for three days at the IOC Headquarters to honor these great champions,” it added It sounds quite similar to that Italian cruise line captain sailing too close to the rocks I feel sadness at the loss of these great athletes also for the pain their families must suffer but I do expect the fault lies with the 'machismo' of the ARGENTINE pilots.. Commenting for this story is now closed.If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page The moment two helicopters carrying staff and participants of a French TV show collided in mid-air in Argentina has been captured on camera were killed in the crash that occurred in the north-western La Rioja province where a survival reality show was being filmed The two aircraft are initially seen flying parallel to each other near Villa Castelli, about 730 miles (1,170km) north-west of Buenos Aires, in mobile-phone footage first obtained by Argentina's El Sol website Suddenly one helicopter seems to shift its trajectory to the right and eventually runs into the other The French government said they were in contact with Argentinian authorities to determine causes for the accident Prosecutors in Paris said they have also opened an investigation for possible involuntary manslaughter La Rioja Secretary of Security Cesar Angulo said the two helicopters belonged to his and the neighbouring Santiago del Estero provinces It appears to have brushed against the other helicopter from Santiago del Estero shortly after takeoff," Angulo said in a statement yachtswoman Florence Arthaud and boxer Alexis Vastine were among the victims They were in the South American country to take part in Dropped Five members of the production company Adventure Line Productions (ALP) – identified as Laurent Sbasnik Brice Guilbert and Edouard Gilles – and the two Argentinian pilots President Francois Hollande led a chorus of tributes that were paid to those who lost their lives tweeting his "immense sadness" at the news Three French sports stars were among the 10 people killed in a crash Monday involving two helicopters in Argentina French President Francois Hollande’s office confirmed Tuesday which claimed the lives of eight French nationals and their two Argentine pilots "The sudden death of our fellow French nationals is a cause of immense sadness," said a statement from Hollande France's Olympic gold medal swimmer Camille Muffat Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine and sailor Florence Arthaud died in the crash that occurred near Villa Castelli in La Rioja province The sports figures were involved in the filming of popular European reality show “Dropped.” On Sunday where it had previously filmed a version of the show for Switzerland and Denmark "An explosion occurred and it's believed that they collided," said La Rioja Secretary of Security Cesar Angulo had been identified as Juan Carlos Castillo and Roberto Abate It appears to have brushed against the other helicopter from Santiago del Estero shortly after takeoff," the statement from the provincial government reportedly said "We learn with great sadness about the accident during the filming of the Dropped show," a statement from channel TF1, which airs the show, said, according to the BBC adding: "All TF1 teams come together in this terrible time with the pain of the families and relatives of the victims." The French athletes were part of a team filming the reality show Dropped a survivalist programme which was being filmed in northwestern Argentina Tragically they were killed when their helicopters reportedly collided in mid-air near Villa Castelli in La Rioja province about 730 miles north west of Buenos Aires the two helicopters collided as they were filming There are no survivors,” provincial spokesman Horacio Alarcon told AFP He said the weather conditions were good and the cause of the crash was unknown French president Francois Hollande said in a statement published on the website of the French daily Liberation: "The brutal demise of our compatriots is an immense sadness." The statement identified the remaining victims as Laurent Sbasnik The athletes were part of a team filming the reality show Dropped a survivalist programme with several versions across Europe The other stars participating in the show were swimmer Alain Bernard snowboarder Anne-Flore Marxer and figure skater Philippe Candeloro later tweeted: "I'm sad for my friends Police and firefighters were still working to recover the victims’ bodies when night fell “It’s been four hours since the collision and (the wreckage) is still on fire There’s smoke rising from the helicopters,” said a police source at the scene Our thoughts are with the friends and families of all those involved in this terrible tragedy Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141; Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) A video clip purportedly showing the exact moment the two helicopters carrying stars of reality TV show "Dropped" crashed has emerged online hours after the fatal crash killed 10 people including French Olympic sports stars. The video clip, released by Argentina's El Sol website shows the two helicopters flying alongside before moving precariously close to each other and ultimately crashing mid-air French swimmer and Olympic gold medallist Camille Muffat Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine and long-distance sailor Florence Arthaud were among those killed when the helicopters collided mid-air The website also published a second clip in which people are seen running towards the site of the crash as the helicopters lay engulfed in flames and smoke Locals who witnessed the accident described it as a dramatic collision that resulted in a "ball of flame." "One of the helicopters sounded as if it was firing off shots or experiencing small explosions that were completely out of place. There were about five metres between the two of them, but the one in front seemed to stop and that caught my attention," David Ocampo, a cattle farmer, was quoted as saying by Daily Mail. "The other one smashed into it from behind with its propellor after trying to swerve to avoid it and fell to the ground and exploded The earth shook when they fell. I rushed towards it to see if there were any survivors but it was just a ball of flame," he said. The French sportspersons were part of a survival adventure TV show "Dropped" and were filming when the accident occurred in the Latin nation's north-west La Rioja province. French President Francois Hollande paid tributes to the eight French nationals who were killed in the freak accident.