Mamadou Ba, a 29-year old Malian had been working as a market cheese vendor in Paris for three years but was refused re-entry into France after renewing his stay permit in Italy.
Among the first to attempt the winter crossing, he and a Guinean companion got lost in a snow storm and spent the night in a snow-filled ravine.
Half-dead, he managed to drag himself back up the slope and was saved by a passing woman who carried him down the mountain on her husky-pulled sleigh.
Mr Ba lost the front half of both feet to frostbite, while his companion lost both hands.
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Bruno Fert for The Telegraph