Air Zermatt rescues mountaineers from crevasses
Even though spring is beckoning at the bottom of the valley, winter sports enthusiasts in the Upper Valais ski destinations are still enjoying the benefits of the winter season. Air Zermatt was called to a total of 23 rescues this weekend. Most of them were ski accidents, but there were also crevasse rescues.
Later on Friday afternoon, Air Zermatt was called to a crevasse rescue on the Feejoch in Saas-Fee. An Air Zermatt crew flew to the accident site with four rescue specialists from the region. The injured alpinist was freed from the crevasse and was flown to the hospital in Visp.
On Sunday afternoon, the air rescuers were called to Saas-Fee once again for a crevasse rescue. Another mountaineer fell about five metres into a crevasse near the Funpark. Air Zermatt again quickly went to the crevasse in question with three rescue specialists on board and was able to rescue him unharmed.
The danger of falling into a crevasse is currently immense when leaving the marked pistes. Air Zermatt would therefore like to remind you that the Valais cantonal police, in collaboration with Valais rescue organisations, already warned winter sports enthusiasts of the dangers of crevasses at the beginning of March and urged them to take particular care. Due to the snow situation, this advice is still current.
In addition to the skiing and crevasse accidents, a 40-year-old woman was also in distress on the Bortelhorn on Sunday afternoon. She fell about four metres down a slope into the Steinubach. An Air Zermatt rescue team flew the hypothermic woman to the hospital in Visp. Four Air Zermatt helicopters were deployed this weekend.