Drama in Switzerland. Two mountaineers – a French and a Spaniard – were killed by falling seracs, large blocks of ice, in southwestern Switzerland on Friday, police said in a statement. Nine other people were also injured. The accident took place in the Grand-Combin, a peak in French-speaking Switzerland.
“Two people died at the scene of the accident. They are a 40-year-old French national residing in France as well as a 65-year-old Spaniard residing in Spain,” the police said.
Nine people injured, two seriously
Seventeen mountaineers were at an altitude of 3,400 meters, in the “Plateau du Déjeuner” sector during the ascent of the Grand-Combin, when they were caught by the seracs. Nine mountaineers, two of whom were “seriously injured” were also airlifted to two hospitals in Lausanne. Other mountaineers were evacuated by helicopter from the scene of the accident.
In total, seven helicopters intervened as well as about forty rescuers. The police also reminded that it was necessary to be extra careful or even to give up the planned outings when the threshold of 0 degrees is around 4,000 meters. The Grand-Combin, which culminates at 4,314 meters above sea level, is the second highest peak in French-speaking Switzerland.