Rockfall on Gernley Ridge: Young climber dies while climbing Matterhorn

The tragedy occurred on Tuesday morning on the Gernley Ridge as two climbers were heading towards the summit of the Matterhorn. Shortly after 6 a.m., at an altitude of about 3,500 meters, rocks suddenly fell off the route.

After the collapse, one of the climbers noticed that he had lost sight of his companion and called the emergency services of the canton of Valais. An Air Zermatt rescue helicopter was sent to search for him. Specialists found the victim on the rocky terrain, but he died at the scene from the injuries he received during the collapse.

Police completed the formal identification of the deceased two weeks after the accident. He was identified as a 20-year-old US citizen.