In a tragic event that marks the alpine community, the bodies of five skiers have been discovered near the luxurious Zermatt resort in Switzerland. The recovery operation commenced after climbers reported several pairs of skis abandoned near the summit of Rimpfischhorn, a 4,199-meter peak located in the Valais Alps. Emergency services acted promptly after they were alerted, launching both aerial and ground search efforts that eventually led to the grim findings on the Adler Glacier.
The local police revealed that the bodies were located on avalanche debris spread over high altitude regions near the Swiss-Italian border, with three victims found clustered together and two others higher on a narrow snow patch. A fifth pair of skis was uncovered during the search, confirming the group originally comprised five members. Authorities have yet to disclose the identities of the individuals involved, as investigations into the incident are being conducted by the public prosecutor's office.
Zermatt is renowned for attracting affluent skiers from Britain and across Europe, yet climbing Rimpfischhorn remains a daunting challenge, often requiring an overnight stay in a high hut due to its lengthy ascent of approximately five hours from the resort. The traditional route involved taking lifts to Blauherd at an elevation of 2,570 meters.
In a separate rescue operation carried out on Friday night, the team of Air Zermatt faced extreme conditions while assisting four alpinists stranded on the Fiescherhörner amid fog and high winds. The initial attempt at evacuation was thwarted by weather, but a subsequent effort shortly after midnight secured the safe return of all four climbers.
