The snow-covered peaks of the Valais Alps, particularly the Rimpfischhorn, have become the site of a tragic incident as the bodies of five skiers were discovered by rescue teams near Switzerland's exclusive Zermatt resort. Emergency services were alerted to a concerning situation when a group of climbers spotted multiple pairs of skis abandoned near the summit of the 4,199-metre mountain.
Following the alert, extensive aerial and ground searches commenced, leading authorities to the discovery of the deceased skiers on the Adler Glacier, situated below the summit. Valais local police reported that the victims were found at varying elevations amidst avalanche debris in precarious high-altitude environments close to the Swiss-Italian border.
Out of the five bodies retrieved, three were located together in one area, while the remaining two were found further up on a narrow snow patch. In addition, a fifth pair of skis was uncovered during the search operations, which confirmed that the skiers had been part of a group of five. Their identities remain undisclosed as investigations continue.
The public prosecutor’s office has initiated a probe to ascertain the details surrounding this tragic accident. Zermatt is known for being a prestigious Alpine resort frequented by affluent skiers from Britain and other parts of Europe. However, the ascent to Rimpfischhorn is regarded as a challenging expedition, typically requiring around five hours to complete and necessitating an overnight stay in a high hut.
In a separate but related incident on Friday night, Air Zermatt also engaged in a complex mountain rescue operation involving four alpinists stranded amidst harsh fog and strong winds on the Fiescherhörner. An initial evacuation attempt was thwarted by adverse weather conditions, yet a second effort just after midnight successfully brought all four climbers to safety.
Following the alert, extensive aerial and ground searches commenced, leading authorities to the discovery of the deceased skiers on the Adler Glacier, situated below the summit. Valais local police reported that the victims were found at varying elevations amidst avalanche debris in precarious high-altitude environments close to the Swiss-Italian border.
Out of the five bodies retrieved, three were located together in one area, while the remaining two were found further up on a narrow snow patch. In addition, a fifth pair of skis was uncovered during the search operations, which confirmed that the skiers had been part of a group of five. Their identities remain undisclosed as investigations continue.
The public prosecutor’s office has initiated a probe to ascertain the details surrounding this tragic accident. Zermatt is known for being a prestigious Alpine resort frequented by affluent skiers from Britain and other parts of Europe. However, the ascent to Rimpfischhorn is regarded as a challenging expedition, typically requiring around five hours to complete and necessitating an overnight stay in a high hut.
In a separate but related incident on Friday night, Air Zermatt also engaged in a complex mountain rescue operation involving four alpinists stranded amidst harsh fog and strong winds on the Fiescherhörner. An initial evacuation attempt was thwarted by adverse weather conditions, yet a second effort just after midnight successfully brought all four climbers to safety.
