A top executive from a Russian social media platform was killed after his all-terrain vehicle flipped while trying to cross an Arctic river.
Vladimir Gabrielyan, 39, deputy CEO of VK, and his friend Sergey Merzlyakov, 44, the social media company’s purchasing director, died in the crash in northern Russia.
The millionaire Gabrielyan’s wife Elena, and another friend Sergey Olsevich, miraculously survived after walking some 16 miles to find reindeer herders to raise the alarm.
Rescuers later found the bodies on the bank of the Bolshoy Bugryanets river.
Gabrielyan and Merzlyakov had managed to free themselves from their vehicle but died of "hypothermia", despite above zero temperatures, some reports suggest.
VK is Russia's biggest social media company.
A spokesperson for the platform said: "This morning it became known that Vladimir Gabrielyan and Sergey Merzlyakov died as a result of a tragic accident.
“We mourn with their family, friends and loved ones. Vladimir and Sergey will forever remain part of our team."
The group were in two Sherp ATVs on the remote Kanin peninsula in Nenets autonomous region.
Olsevich later told BAZA media outlet that he and Elena were in the second ATV following Gabrielyan and Merzlyakov.
He said: " I was waiting on the shore and after 10 minutes they [radioed] me that I was to follow them.
“I drove to the river and floated behind them down the river.
“In a few minutes, Vladimir by radio set told me that the river was very dangerous, that I must be cautious…
The VK boss told him: ”Sergey, don't be afraid, go forward."
“After this, our ATV flipped on its side. Me and Elena got out and the satellite phone drowned.
“The radio set was still working, but no-one was in touch.”
The conditions made it impossible to search by the river bank, he said.
So they walked back to the nearest herder’s hut to summon help.
Gabrielyan had been on the board of VK since March and deputy CEO since 2019.
