Sunday 29th April 2018, 14 ski tourers were caught by an unexpected storm and whiteout conditions and were forced to spend the night outdoors, in the Pigne d'Arolla sector (3,790m) in Swiss Alps.
According to Le Dauphine, the alert was first given on Monday morning 30th April 2018, shortly before 6:30am, by the keeper of the Vignettes Hut (3,160m), asking for help, because several people were found in the area of Pigne d'Arolla after spending the night outside at 3,270m.
7 helicopters were dispatched to the scene
According to the Valais cantonal police, a major rescue operation: including 7 helicopters from Air-Glaciers, Air-Zermatt, and REGA with several SMUR doctors and gendarmes on board, were dispatched to the scene.
Rescuers then discovered 14 people, several of them in hypothermia and one person dead, apparently as a result of a fall. The victim is an experienced Italian guide from Como, Mario Castiglioni, 59 years old. He used to organize mountain trails with his Bulgarian wife, who is also one of the dead victims.
Creator and founder of MLG Mountain Guide (mountain travel agency), Mario Castiglioni was a UIAGM guide since 1991.
The hikers have been helicoptered to various hospitals in Valais and out of the Canton.
Update on Wednesday 2nd May 2018: 7 people died (6 Italians and one Bulgarian); 2 people are still in serious condition: it is a 72-year-old Swiss, a 56-year-old Frenchwoman; 5 people slightly injured (mild hypothermia): 3 French, one German and one Italian.
The cantonal police activated its HELPLINE to establish contact with the families of the victims.
According to a statement from the police, the group that was on the Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route, left the Dix Hut (2,928m) on Sunday 29th April 2018. They planned to follow the Serpentine classic route to the Vignettes Hut (3,160m) where they intended to spend the night. But as they reached the Pigne d'Arolla area the group were engulfed in an unexpected storm with high winds, snow, and extreme cold.
An investigation was opened by the Public Prosecutor.
Since the beginning of the year, several fatal accidents have occurred in Swiss Alps due to avalanches or bad weather.
