On Saturday, six skiers were reported missing to the Swiss authorities in Zermatt, not far from the mountains Tête Blanche and Matterhorn.
The following day, five of the tourists – belonging to the same family – were found frozen to death. This was confirmed by local police on Monday. All five must have been wearing avalanche beacons.
REMEMBERED IN VEX: Five skiers from the same family were found frozen to death near Tête Blanche. The search for the sixth person continues. Photo: Valentin Flauraud/Keystone via AP Show more
The sixth person in the tour party has still not been located, despite the fact that the skis and rucksack were found together with the other five deceased.
Boyfriend missing
According to Anjan Truffer, director of the rescue helicopter company Zermatt Mountain Rescue, there is speculation as to whether the person in question may have fallen into a crack.
BROTHERS: Jean-Vincent Moix, Davic Moix and Laurent Moix perished in the mountain. Photo: Deces Show more
On Wednesday, the victims were identified as brothers Jean-Vincent Moix (30), David Moix (27) and Laurent Moix (21), as well as cousin Marc Moix (44) and uncle Joel Moix (58).
The missing person must, according to British The Independent be David Moix’s girlfriend, Emilie Deschenaux (28).
DEAD: Joel Moix and policeman Marc Moix. Photo: Deces Show more
On it Swiss memorial site Deces it is written that the brothers practiced their passion and “fell asleep together on their journey to eternity.”
Furthermore, it says that “Emilie Deschenaux, David’s girlfriend, is still in the mountains”.
– Ugly sight
Truffer tells the Swiss newspaper Blick that what met the rescuers was an ugly sight.
– The picture that greeted us was ugly. We saw that the skiers had tried to build a snow cave to protect themselves from the wind, he says and continues:
– They froze to death at the height, disoriented.
SWITZERLAND: The picture shows the place where the five people are said to have tried to dig themselves into the lee from the storm. Photo: Cantonal Police Valais Show more
According to the director, the weather in the area was good on Saturday.
– But we knew it would get worse at night and on Sunday. They were caught in the storm, he tells the newspaper.
3500 meters above sea level
A little over an hour after the tour group was reported missing, a member of the group managed to get in touch with the rescue team by phone, writes the Swiss newspaper 20 minutes.
The group should then have found themselves approximately 3,500 meters above sea level. They were on their way from the alpine town of Zermatt with the aim of reaching the town of Arolla when the incident occurred.
SEARCH: Rescuers are still searching for the sixth skier. Photo: Police in Valais Show more
The weather conditions must have created major challenges for the search work. On the south side of the Alps there was a storm and danger of avalanches.
– Must be “realistic”
On the night of Sunday, five experienced rescue teams tried to reach the group’s last known location, but had to abort the attempt at approximately 3,000 meters due to the weather, according to 20 Minuten.
On Sunday, the search was resumed, including with assistance from the Swiss Armed Forces.
The search in the area is still ongoing, but Anjan Truffer says Sky News that everyone involved must be “realistic” about the outcome.
– It is the most terrible thing that can happen to a family – not finding the last body. It is difficult.
2024-03-14 15:10:22
#Family #identified #Freeze #death
