So... champion death seems to be in the game now - at least in the LH Beta. Was this in a changelog that I missed? It was a nasty surprise! I was so shocked that I flicked through to see what it meant without taking a screenshot, and *poof* - he had vanished to the land of wind and ghosts, along with all the gear he was carrying.
Under injuries, it listed "killed" as if he was troops rather than a champion. I refought the battle a few times, and each time he took an injury as normal, so I have no idea whether to report as a bug under LH support or if this is a risk now.
RIP, Nochd Nightbringer. Your badass ninjaportation skills will be missed.