Swiss rescuers brave harsh weather to save two rope teams

The rescue organisation in canton Valais and Air Zermatt rescued two blocked rope teams from mountains in the Saas Valley on Saturday in adverse weather conditions. The operation was a complex one. One of the rope teams had to descend from the Lagginhorn at night under great strain. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Shortly after 6 ppm, the rescuers were deployed to a four-person rope team blocked on the south ridge of the Lagginhorn, as the cantonal Valais rescue organisation (KWRO) and the helicopter company announced on Sunday. Rescue by helicopter was not possible due to a snowstorm and fog. According to Air Zermatt, the rescue coordination organisation asked the climbers to ascend to the summit and descend via the normal route. In the prevailing conditions, this was easier than the descent via the technically more difficult south ridge. Rescue at night and in fog Despite the storm, snowfall and thick fog, a helicopter initially dropped two rescue ...