Several high-ranking executives of a social networking platform called "Russian Facebook" died on Monday after their off-road amphibious vehicle (ATV) overturned in a wild river in the Arctic, writes The Daily Mail.

Deputy CEO of VKontakte, Vladimir Gabrielyan (39) and the Procurement Director Sergei Merzlyakov (44) died after a failed attempt to cross the Bolshoi Bugryanec River in the Nenetsk Arkangelsk Autonomous Okrug in northern Russia.

The strong river current overturned their vehicle, broke it from the rocks and took it downstream.

The two men managed to get rid of their vehicle, but succumbed to hypothermia due to wet clothes and temperatures around zero degrees Celsius.

Rescuers found their bodies on the river bank the next morning.

Gabrielian's wife, Elena and their friend Sergei Olsevich, who were escorted to the other ATV which was also overturned by the river, miraculously survived after walking about 25 km and reaching the reindeer breeder's hut and calling for help.

Multimillionaire Gabrielian and his friends explored the remote Kanin Peninsula in northern Russia in the Nenets region in Sherp ATVs.

The fatal accident happened around 17 pm local time after Gabrielian mistakenly estimated that the vehicles would be able to cross the river despite the strong current.

Gabrielian told the crew of the other ATV by radio that he would be able to drive the vehicle and told his wife Elena and Olsevich to follow him before he dived into the water.

"I was waiting on the shore, and after 10 minutes they called me to follow them," Olshevich told Russian media after the tragedy. "I drove to the river and floated behind them along the river. "A few minutes later, Vladimir told me that the river was very dangerous and that I had to be careful."

Strong river currents overturned both ATVs, destroying Olsevich's satellite phone and leaving them unable to call for help.

"Elena and I went out, and the satellite phone remained submerged. "The radio was still working, but no one was within reach," Olshevich said.

Olevsevich and Elena tried several more times to reach Gabrielyan and Merzlyakov on the radio, but the conditions were such that they could not go in search of them.

Trapped on a remote peninsula, the couple walked about 25 miles [XNUMX km] along the coast until they came across a cattle ranch, which sheltered them overnight until the Emergency Situations Ministry sent a rescue team early in the morning.

The nearest rescue helicopter was located in the administrative center of the Naryan-Mar region, about 400 km from the crash site, so the rescue operation had to be postponed.

VKontakte or VK - the largest Russian social media platform similar to Facebook - announced yesterday:

"We learned that Vladimir Gabrielyan and Sergei Merzlyakov died in a tragic accident. We grieve with their family, friends and loved ones. "Vladimir and Sergei will remain part of our team forever."

Gabrielian has been on the board of V Kontakte since March and has been Deputy General Manager since 2019.