Safety · Zermatt
Climber killed by falling rocks on Matterhorn's Hörnli ridge near Zermatt
A climber died on Tuesday, 27 October, after stones fell near him and his companion at about 3,500 metres on the Swiss side of the Matterhorn. The news only became public on Wednesday, 28 October.
AI text based on reports by SWI swissinfo.ch, ANSA.it, 20 Minuten and other publishers. Published . How it is made
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In brief
A man died on Tuesday, 27 October, after stones fell near him and his companion at about 3,500 metres, according to Valais police.
An Air Zermatt helicopter reached the scene and located the climber, but rescuers could only confirm his death.
The victim had not been formally identified, and the Valais cantonal prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into the accident.
- Companion lost from viewOne climber loses sight of his companion and alerts rescue services
- Helicopter locates climberAn Air Zermatt helicopter finds the climber in the terrain
- Death confirmedRescuers can only confirm the climber's death
Rockfall on the Hörnli ridge
Two climbers were ascending the Hörnli ridge on the Swiss side of the Matterhorn, above Zermatt, shortly after 6:00 on Tuesday, 27 October. At about 3,500 metres, stones came down in their vicinity. One of the pair lost sight of his companion and immediately alerted rescue services. The companion was later found in the terrain, and German-language reports said he had fallen and suffered fatal injuries.
Helicopter search
The Valais cantonal rescue organisation KWRO 144 dispatched a helicopter from Air Zermatt. The crew flew to the accident site and located the climber shortly afterwards. Rescuers could do nothing more than confirm his death. The accident was made public only on Wednesday, 28 October, when the Valais cantonal police issued a statement about it.
Identity and investigation
The victim had not been formally identified in the reports. Blick said the formal identification was under way. The Valais cantonal prosecutor's office has opened an investigation to establish the exact circumstances of the accident.
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Sources and context
- SWI swissinfo.chMatterhorn: rockfall, dies during climbCervino: caduta di sassi, muore durante scalata · original in Italian
- ANSA.itRockfall on the Matterhorn, a climber diedScarica di sassi sul Cervino, morto un alpinista - Notizie · original in Italian
- 20 MinutenMatterhorn: Climber dies after rockfall on the Hörnli ridge near ZermattMatterhorn: Bergsteiger stirbt nach Steinschlag am Hörnligrat bei Zermatt · original in German
- Blick.chAlpinist falls to his death on the MatterhornAlpinist stürzt am Matterhorn in den Tod · original in German
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