Italian authorities said on Sunday that all five skiers were found dead. They were located on a glacier close to Rimpfischhorn, one of the many impressive mountains of the Valais Alps in Switzerland. It was a frightening find that two skiers came across on Saturday. Along the way, they discovered lost and left behind skis at the base of the mountain’s summit.
The search and rescue operation began almost immediately after the alarm was sounded. As the rescue efforts continued, a rescue helicopter with trained medical professionals was quickly sent to the area to identify and locate these individuals in distress. It wasn’t long before the dedicated rescue crew located the remains of all five skiers, bringing the search to a heartbreaking conclusion.
The other three dead skiers were found about 1500 feet from where the skis were found. The investigation into the cause found this meadow, positioned at the foot of one of the most stunning summits, Rimpfischhorn. Her breathtaking, snow-capped mountains lure millions of active adventurers every summer. At the same time, two other bodies were found almost 200 meters higher on an island of snow that had formed in the high Alps’ ice-clad slopes.
Air Zermatt was instrumental in allowing for additional detail as to the location of the bodies, helping rescuers to converge on the area. The police are still investigating exactly what led to the incident. They have not made public any information regarding the identities of the deceased or under what conditions they died.
Rimpfischhorn is one of the most recognizable peaks in the Swiss Alps. Today, its extreme landscape welcomes the world’s most accomplished skiers and mountaineers. The grim tragedy that unfolded recently is a reminder of the inherent risks that winter sports can present in high altitude settings.
