As of: February 12, 2024, 5:05 a.m
By: Romina Kunze
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After a large-scale search, a family was found dead in Switzerland.
The group from the Netherlands had been missing for days.
Lausanne – Days ago, a family of three from the Netherlands was reported missing while on vacation in Switzerland.
Now the sad certainty: the Dutch woman and her two adult children are dead. After a major search operation, their bodies were found on Friday (February 9th) 300 meters below a steep hiking trail, as the police announced the following Saturday.
Family from Netherlands found dead in Swiss Alps – probably a hiking accident
The 57-year-old and her daughter (25) and son (22) were hiking in the area of the Rochers-de-Naye mountain above Montreux last week and did not report back from their hike on Thursday.
The exact background to the accident is currently being investigated, it is said.
A family of three apparently had an accident in the Swiss Alps.
She was missing for several days.
(Symbolic photo) © Imago
The Rochers-de-Naye mountain is 2042 meters high and is a popular excursion destination.
A cog railway takes visitors and hikers from Lake Geneva to over 2000 meters.
When visibility is good, you can see the Alpine panorama from above, from the Eiger to Europe's highest mountain, Mont Blanc.
Those who died in the accident were both tourists and locals.
The son lived in the Lausanne region, mother and daughter were visiting from the Netherlands.
Family has an accident in the Swiss Alps – the number of mountain accidents is increasing
The cause of the accident is still unknown, but the case is reminiscent of that of a 16-year-old vacationer from Germany who went on a hike alone in South Tyrol and never returned.
After a few days, the body of the missing teenager was found beneath a hiking trail.
Meanwhile, friends had to watch as a 28-year-old from Bavaria was swept away by an avalanche and died.
Dramatic mountain accidents seem to be increasing.
The evaluation by the German Alpine Association (DAV) also suggests this: for 2022, the DAV mountain accident statistics show a record in the absolute number of accidents, although fatal accidents were “at a relatively low level,” as the report states.
The figures for 2023 are not yet available.
The German Alpine Association gives tips on how to stay safe in the mountains
According to statistics, accidents caused by falling rocks and ice in mountaineering terrain have increased, which proves the need to adequately deal with the changes in high mountains.
According to DAV, the main dangers on mountain tours are:
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Falls, for example due to slipping on icy surfaces.
Getting lost or blocked because paths are covered by snow and are therefore not visible.
Falls due to slipping or because a (small) avalanche washes someone over a slope.
Accordingly, the right equipment plays an important role, especially in winter, a DAV spokesman said when asked by
IPPEN.MEDIA
about the topic a few weeks ago.
However, the equipment alone is not enough and “needs to be supplemented with additional elements”.
This includes know-how, proper tour planning and a realistic self-assessment of your own abilities and the conditions on the mountain.
In winter, the experts from the Alpine Association recommend that hikers use sticks and special sturdy footwear when there is ice (Grödel).
In addition to shoes, the equipment also included warm clothing, gloves and a hat, as well as a rainproof jacket and sleeping bag (bivy bag).
You should also always have a cell phone with you.
Since only a fraction of the mountain huts are open in winter - and therefore outside the main season - you should also take food and warm drinks with you.
In winter, more time should be allowed for, as depending on the conditions on the paths, progress can often be slower and more difficult.
(rku)