Five ski tourers in the Alps in a tragic misfortune
Five ski tourers in the Alps in a tragic misfortune
In a tragic accident, five ski tourers were killed in the Rimpfischhorn in the Zermatt region, Switzerland. The accident occurred at a height of around 4000 meters, while the group was traveling towards the summit on a demanding path. The tour started at the Britanniahütte and led over the Adler Glacier.
On Saturday afternoon, around 4:30 p.m., two alpinists alerted the rescue workers after finding abandoned skis near a depot. She worried this discovery because they could not find the owner of the skis on the route. As a result, a helicopter of the Air Zermatt was consulted with a paramedic, an emergency doctor and two rescue specialists from the KWRO to explore the situation and search for further ski touring.
finds of the rescue workers
The helicopter crew quickly discovered the first three alpinists on a avalanche cone, about 500 meters of altitude below the saddle. In the further search for missing people, two more bodies were found around 200 meters above a meter above a small snow. Tragically, only death could be found on all five fallen tours.
The corpses were recovered by the mountain. The Valais cantonal police announced that they are now being thoroughly examined to learn more about the circumstances of the accident.
Investigations and other accidents
The Valais public prosecutor has already started an investigation to clarify the exact circumstances of the accident. Due to the desolate situation, there are no eyewitnesses that could put light into the dark. Therefore, it remains unclear how this unfortunate incident could occur. The identification of the victims was not yet complete on Sunday afternoon (May 25th), which made the situation more difficult.
Only recently had another avalanche accident in Switzerland called two fatalities and several injuries, which again put the dangers of ski tourers in the Alps into public awareness. The Zermatt region, which is known for its breathtaking landscapes and demanding routes, is now faced with a number of questions about security for mountain tours.
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| Ort | Zermatt, Schweiz |
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