British trio Rebecca Adlington, Amir Khan and Ellen MacArthur are among those to have paid tributes after three French sports stars were killed in a helicopter crash in Argentina yesterday.

Two helicopters collided near Villa Castelli in La Rioja province, around 750 miles north-west of Buenos Aires, killing eight French nationals and two Argentinians during filming for reality television show Dropped.

Among those killed were Olympic swimming champion Camille Muffat, boxer Alexis Vastine and sailor Florence Arthaud, the Argentinian government said.

It is understood French channel TF1’s Dropped show sees celebrities flown by helicopter into rough terrain, with their attempts to find food and shelter then being filmed.

Muffat, who was 25, won 400 metres freestyle gold at London 2012 — ahead of bronze-medallist Adlington — plus 200m freestyle silver and 4x200m freestyle relay bronze.

Two-time Olympic champion Adlington wrote on Twitter: “So sad and shocked to wake up to hear the tragic death of Camille Muffat. She was an amazing sportswoman, competitor and lovely person.

“My thoughts go out to not only all her friends and family but to all the family and friends of all the 10 victims. Its an extremely sad day.”

Twenty-eight-year-old Vastine claimed light welterweight bronze at the 2008 Olympics.

Khan, the 2004 Olympic lightweight silver-medallist who went on to become a pro world champion, said: “I’m very sad to hear of the passing of Alexis Vastine.

“I had the pleasure of competing against him in the amateurs and would like to send my deepest condolences to all his family and friends during this difficult time.”

Arthaud, 57, won the transatlantic single-handed yacht race Route du Rhum in 1990.

Fellow yachtswoman MacArthur said: “Florence’s view was that the sea is out there and it’s there for the taking.

“I’m sure she’s inspired many, many people.”