Air Zermatt rescues nighttime hiker
During the night of Wednesday, Air Zermatt rescued a young hiker under unusual circumstances on his way to the Hörnlihütte on the Matterhorn. The young man had traveled to Zermatt late on Tuesday evening to go on a spontaneous night hike. The operation ended with a rescue by the Air Zermatt crew and a rescue specialist from the Valais Cantonal Rescue Organization (KWRO).
The man arrived in Zermatt shortly before 10 p.m. and, despite the darkness and winter conditions, set off on foot towards Stafelalpe. After initially planning to turn back there, he unexpectedly decided on the way back to continue climbing towards the Matterhorn with the aim of spending the night at the Hörnli hut.
However, on his way to the Hörnli hut, the hiker encountered deep snow and turned back. After more than six hours of hiking alone at night, he began to slip more and more during the descent and was unable to maintain his balance on the steep terrain. With temperatures below freezing, he finally alerted the rescue services.
Air Zermatt launched a rescue operation at night together with a rescue specialist from the KWRO. The young man was safely rescued from his precarious situation in the snowy terrain. He was then flown to the Air Zermatt base in Zermatt.
