Several rescue missions on the Matterhorn in one week
There was a lot going on in the Valais mountains last week, and the Air Zermatt rescue crews had their hands full. On the Matterhorn alone, Air Zermatt had to take off on several rescue missions from Monday to Sunday. In total, Air Zermatt took off 52 times last week for rescues by helicopter; the ambulance was called out a further 15 times.
The mountains are a hive of activity. Thanks to the favourable weather forecasts, the holiday season and the good conditions in the mountains, many mountaineers were drawn to high alpine tours. As the number of mountaineers increased, so did the number of helicopter rescue crews called out to help alpinists in distress. The Air Zermatt crews clearly felt this increased activity last week: from Monday to Friday, they were on duty from early in the morning until late at night, alerted by the cantonal Valais rescue organisation KWRO (emergency number 144). The situation calmed down somewhat at the weekend due to the weather.
Sad outcome on the Matterhorn
Two independent rope teams on the Matterhorn had to be rescued during the night from Monday to Tuesday. Both rope teams had got into difficulties above the Solvay hut and one person was injured. Together with a rescue specialist from the Zermatt rescue station, the four climbers were brought to safety during the night.
On Wednesday, three Italian mountain guides and their guests were caught in a violent thunderstorm on the Matterhorn. Soaked and exhausted, a safe descent was no longer possible. The six mountaineers spent the night in the Solvay hut until they were evacuated by Air Zermatt early on Thursday morning. That same evening, another climber injured himself on the Matterhorn, making a descent impossible. He was rescued late that night by an Air Zermatt crew.
Unfortunately, there were also missions on the Matterhorn where all help came too late. On Wednesday, two mountaineers fell over a thousand metres, and on Friday there was another tragic accident in which an alpinist fell around 800 metres. In all cases, the victims could no longer be helped.
Eventful Friday morning
Friday morning also brought a number of missions for Air Zermatt. The rescue crews were called out to three different locations almost simultaneously. On the Dent d'Herens, a two-person rope team fell into a rockfall in which a female climber was hit by a stone. She was flown to hospital in Visp by Air Zermatt.
At the same time, another two-person rope team on the Rimpfischhorn had to be evacuated as their rope had become caught in a mountain ledge and they were blocked. Both alpinists were flown to Zermatt by helicopter.
Finally, Air Zermatt rescued another two-man rope team on the east ridge of the Weisshorn. The two climbers had slipped about 80 metres down a snowfield, injuring one of them. He was also flown to hospital in Visp by Air Zermatt.
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