BUENOS AIRES (AFP) - A French mountain climber died during a descent from the summit of Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas, with nine other people, authorities said on Wednesday.

The climber was identified as Daniel Jeanot, 58, who apparently was injured after being knocked down by a gust of wind at 6,300m, said an official with the security ministry of Mendoza province.

The official said the group reached a refuge on Tuesday night and reported that one of their members was in bad condition, the newspaper Uno reported.

Jeanot later died.

It was the fifth death on Aconcagua during the current summer climbing season in the southern hemisphere. Aconcagua, located in the Andes, is 6,960.8m high.