Latest news with #AirZermatt
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Bodies of Five Skiers Found Below 13,000' Peak
The bodies of five deceased skiers have been found on the Adler glacier below the summit of the Rimpfischhorn, a Swiss peak near the resort town Zermatt, according to a statement published on Sunday by Valais cantonal Saturday, two mountaineers discovered four abandoned pairs of skis while they were climbing the Rimpfischhorn but didn't encounter the equipment's owners, so they alerted rescuers, police and Air Zermatt Air Zermatt helicopter with rescuers and a doctor on board flew over the area and quickly discovered the five Télévision Suisse reported that three of the bodies were located about 1,600 feet below the abandoned equipment on an avalanche cone. The other two bodies were found about 600 feet higher in a small snowy area. Formal identification of the victims is ongoing, according to the police statement. The Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating the circumstances of the incident. Standing at 13,776 feet, the Rimpfischhorn lies east of Zermatt and is frequented by backcountry travelers. Before discovering the bodies on the Adler glacier, Air Zermatt said in a statement that it had undergone what it called a 'challenging mission' involving the rescue of two two-man rope teams on the Fiescherhö climbing teams had been surprised by wind and the rescue Friday evening, an Air Zermatt crew was forced to turn back due to adverse weather conditions. Then, after midnight, the crew made another attempt and managed to save the four climbers by executing a 'precise hovering maneuver,' according to the Air Zermatt of Five Skiers Found Below 13,000' Peak first appeared on Powder on May 27, 2025
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
5 People Found Dead Near Popular Luxury Mountain Resort
According to multiple reports, five skiers were found dead on a glacier near the summit of the Rimpfischhorn mountain in Switzerland. Swiss police announced the discovery on Sunday, responding after other skiers reported abandoned equipment at the bottom of the summit. Inclement weather and avalanches in the area are being examined as part of the ongoing investigation into the death of the skiers. The deceased skiers have yet to be formally identified, and their nationalities are unclear. Air Zermatt says that three of the bodies were located in one area, while two more were found higher up, sitting on a patch of snow. The bodies were found after ground and air searches. The Rimpfischhorn stands at 13,776 feet and is located in the resort town of Zermatt, near the Swiss/Italian border. The resort is one of the most prestigious and exclusive in Europe, as skiers travel from across the continent to visit. Rimpfischhorn is located roughly five hours from town, and is considered a more advanced summit for experienced backcountry skiers. The BBC says that there are a number of different approaches to the climb, and that all require travelers to spend the night on the mountain. The BBC says the usual way for climbers to reach the top is with the use of lifts, though it's unclear which method the five deceased climbers used to make their way to the summit. Rescue crews were already busy over the weekend, as a separate incident required Air Zermatt to help four other skiers who were stranded on the Fiescherhörner amid high winds and heavy fog. 'Extremely difficult' conditions prevented the helicopter from reaching the stranded skiers in an initial attempt, but they were able to return six hours later to help. The Guardian says that earlier this month, avalanches and road closures came after heavy snowfall in the region. Local media reported that the weather's severity made the resort inaccessible. Weeks later, it appears that the harsh weather has only persisted. Rest in peace to the five skiers who were found dead. We send condolences to their friends, families and loved ones during this difficult time. 5 People Found Dead Near Popular Luxury Mountain Resort first appeared on Men's Journal on May 26, 2025
Global News
7 days ago
- General
- Global News
5 skiers found dead in Swiss Alps near luxury resort
The bodies of five skiers have been found on a glacier above the Swiss resort town of Zermatt after two hikers reported seeing abandoned skis near the Rimpfischhorn, a 4,000-metre peak in the Valais Alps, authorities said on May 25. An Air Zermatt aircraft with an emergency doctor, paramedic and two Valais Cantonal Rescue Organization specialists flew over the area immediately, according to authorities. Valais cantonal police said Sunday the victims were located on the Adler Glacier following aerial and ground searches. Three of the bodies were found 500 metres from where the abandoned skis were located on an avalanche cone, according to CNN. (An avalanche cone is a deposit of snow and other debris that forms at the base of an avalanche's path.) The two other bodies were found 200 metres higher, according to Air Zermatt. Story continues below advertisement Formal identification of the victims is still underway, and their nationalities have not yet been released. Authorities have opened an investigation into the circumstances. Weather conditions and avalanche activity in the region are being examined as part of the probe. This isn't the first time skiers have been found dead in the Swiss Alps. 0:43 5 missing skiers found dead in Swiss Alps, search still on for 1 other In March 2024, five cross-country skiers were found dead on a mountaintop in the Swiss Alps. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The group of skiers, including five family members from Valais, had set off to ski from Zermatt, the famed resort town at the base of the Matterhorn, to the village of Arolla — a section of the gruelling 'Haute Route' alpine trail. The bodies of the five skiers were found at approximately 3,500 metres above sea level at Tête Blanche (White Head) ridge, one of the highest peaks of the Haute Route. Story continues below advertisement When the skiers set off, the conditions in the area were 'relatively good,' but the weather quickly deteriorated, Christian Varone, commander of Valais regional police, told a news conference in Sion, Switzerland. Shortly after 6 p.m. that evening, a rescue crew set off from Zermatt in search of the skiers. The rescuers managed to reach an altitude of 3,000 metres but were forced to turn back due to the extreme wind and cold. At 9 p.m., a second search effort was suspended due to avalanche risk. View image in full screen Mountain rescuers and helicopters participate in a rescue mission in the Swiss Alps, near Sion, Switzerland, on March 10, 2024. Valais cantonal police via AP Eventually the rescue team reached the location of the missing ski group and found five people with no signs of life. 'Unfortunately this region is accustomed to tragedies like this,' Varone told reporters, referring to the deaths of seven hikers — six Italians and a Bulgarian — in the region in 2018. The hikers were caught in a storm overnight and froze to death. Story continues below advertisement — With files from Global News and The Associated Press
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
5 Skiers Found Dead Near Luxury Mountain Resort amid ‘Extremely Difficult' Weather: Reports
The bodies of five skiers have been discovered on a glacier close to the Rimpfischhorn mountain near Zermatt, Switzerland, police confirmed to multiple outlets on Sunday, May 25 The alarm was raised when two climbers saw abandoned skis at the foot of the summit of the mountain The bodies were "quickly" discovered by the helicopter rescue team, Air ZermattThe bodies of five skiers were discovered on a glacier close to the summit of the Rimpfischhorn mountain near Zermatt, Switzerland, police announced on Sunday, May 25, according to multiple outlets, including CNN, The Guardian, and the BBC. Swiss police said that the alarm was raised when two climbers came across abandoned skis at the foot of the summit of the mountain. CNN reported that the bodies were recovered the next day. Police added that the bodies were 'quickly discovered' once a rescue helicopter flown by Air Zermatt with medical professionals on board arrived in the area, the outlet added. The Guardian noted that authorities have opened an investigation and are working on identifying the victims. As reported by The Guardian, Air Zermatt said a group of mountaineers had spotted four pairs of abandoned skis at an altitude of about 4,000 metres (13,123 feet) as they made their way up the Rimpfischhorn. After raising the alarm, the Swiss helicopter rescue agency said it found three bodies on an avalanche cone (a mass of snow deposited by a snow slip). The firm added that the additional two bodies were found about 650 feet away. The outlet added that the victims were located on the Adler glacier. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. According to CNN, police say formal identification of the victims is ongoing, while the Attorney General has opened an investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the accident. Air Zermatt said 'extremely difficult' weather conditions of 'heavy wind and fog' on the day of the incident meant they had to carry out another challenging rescue mission just before the discovery of the five skiers' bodies. The BBC reported that two mountaineers had become stranded on the nearby Fiescherhörner mountain with an initial rescue attempt having to be aborted, while a subsequent attempt six hours later was successful. The Rimpfischhorn is a 4,199-metre (13,776-foot) mountain that lies east of Zermatt, near the Italian border. It is popular with off-piste skiers. Zermatt is one of Switzerland's most exclusive Alpine resorts, visited by affluent European skiers. However, the climb to Rimpfischhorn is considered a much more advanced expedition, located around five hours from Zermatt. According to the BBC, there are a number of approaches to the climb, all of which require spending the night on the mountain in a "high hut." Air Zermatt and the Swiss Police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Read the original article on People
Saudi Gazette
26-05-2025
- General
- Saudi Gazette
Bodies of five skiers found near Swiss resort
GENEVA — The bodies of five skiers have been found by rescuers near Switzerland's luxury Zermatt resort. They were recovered a day after emergency services were alerted by a group of climbers ascending the Rimpfischhorn — a 4,199-metre peak in the Valais Alps — to several pairs of skis left unattended near the summit. Aerial and ground searches led to the discovery of the bodies below the summit on the Adler Glacier, Valais local police said in a statement on Sunday. The victims were found at varying altitudes on avalanche debris in high altitude areas near the Swiss-Italian border. Three bodies were located in one area and two more were discovered higher up on a narrow patch of snow, rescue service Air Zermatt said. A fifth pair of skis was later found during the search, confirming that the group had traveled as a party of five. Their identities have not yet been formally public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into the circumstances of the is one of Switzerland's more premium Alpine resorts, visited by affluent British and other European skiers. But the climb to Rimpfischhorn is considered a more advanced expedition, around five hours from the are a number of approaches to the climb, all of them requiring an overnight in a high hut. From Zermatt the usual way is to take lifts to Blauherd at 2570 a separate incident on Friday night, Air Zermatt was also involved in a challenging mountain rescue on the Fiescherhörner, where four alpinists were stranded amid fog and high initial evacuation attempt had to be aborted due to the weather, but a second attempt just after midnight brought all four to safety. — BBC
