Vladimir Putin’s close ally dies trying to save man who fell off cliff

A CLOSE ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin died yesterday trying to save a man’s life during an Arctic training drill. Yevgeny Zinichev, 55, rushed to help a camera operator who had fallen off a cliff and into the sea. APYevgeny Zinichev died trying to save a man’s life during an Arctic training drill[/caption] But Zinichev, Russia’s emergencies minister, died after reportedly bumping into a rock. Margarita Simonyan, boss of Russian broadcaster RT, said: “He and the cameraman stood at the edge of a ledge. “The cameraman slipped and fell into the water. “No one even had time to think about what had happened, when Zinichev threw himself into the water after the fallen person and crashed into a protruding rock.” The cameraman, film director Alexander Melnik, 63, also died. The inter-agency exercise was taking place in northern Siberia and involved 6,000 specialists who cover various crisis situations. Most read in World News BOMB SCARE Airport evacuated after 'explosive device' found in passenger's bag HAMMER MANIAC Sledgehammer killer crushed skulls of six strangers he lured off street SHOW OF DEFIANCE Powerful moment Afghan woman stares down barrel of Taliban militant’s gun SAMURAI MAFIA Inside terrifying Japanese 'yakuza' mob - from severed fingers to child porn JAWS OF DEATH World’s worst hyena attacks as boy, 9, has jaw ripped from his face ONE-PUNCH HORROR Brit football star, 25, left fighting for life after one-punch attack Zinichev, an army general and former KGB officer, had been tipped as a possible successor to Putin. He had served as governor of Kaliningrad region. Putin, 68, was informed of the tragedy while he was also making a visit to Siberia. GettyZinichev, an army general and former KGB officer, had been tipped as a possible successor to Putin[/caption]