Rescuers have found the bodies of five skiers near the renowned Zermatt resort in Switzerland's Valais Alps, a day after their disappearance was reported. The search was initiated after a group of climbers stumbled upon several pairs of unattended skis near the summit of the 4,199-meter Rimpfischhorn mountain.
Local police stated that both aerial and on-ground searches led to the grim discovery of the bodies located below the summit on the Adler Glacier. The victims were found at different locations, largely on avalanche debris in the high-altitude region, close to the Swiss-Italian border.
Three of the skiers’ bodies were situated in one area, while two others were identified at a higher elevation on a narrow snow patch. The search team also uncovered a fifth pair of skis, indicating that the group had indeed consisted of five members. Authorities have yet to publicly disclose the identities of the deceased, and the public prosecutor's office has initiated an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragic event.
Zermatt is a luxury ski destination favored by affluent skiers from Britain and other parts of Europe; however, the ascent to Rimpfischhorn is specifically known for being a demanding expedition, taking approximately five hours to reach from the resort. Climbers typically require an overnight stay in a mountain hut to prepare for the climb.
Additionally, in a separate rescue operation on Friday night, Air Zermatt was engaged in a complex rescue mission on the Fiescherhörner, where four climbers became trapped due to poor weather conditions. Initial rescue attempts were thwarted by fog and high winds, but a successful second attempt just after midnight enabled the safe extraction of all four individuals.
