French authorities reported on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, that four climbers who disappeared on Mont Blanc, France on Saturday, September 7 were found dead. The victims, two Italians and two South Koreans, perished due to extreme weather conditions near the peak of the tallest mountain in Western Europe.
The search and rescue team from Chamonix-Mont Blanc discovered the bodies of the four climbers at around 15,400 feet on the French side of Mont Blanc, not far from the summit. Officials suggested the climbers probably died from hypothermia and exhaustion after being stuck in harsh weather for several days.
The deceased Italian climbers were identified as 41-year-old Sara Stefanelli and 53-year-old Andrea Galimberti. Their bodies were located in the Mur de la Cote area, a steep frozen incline heading to the summit. The two South Korean climbers, a man and a woman ranging in their 40s to 50s, were discovered slightly lower than the Italians, at an altitude of about 14,764 feet.
Two additional South Korean climbers were rescued alive on Sunday morning at an altitude of 13,400 feet following a strenuous rescue operation.
Rescue attempts had been hindered since Saturday due to low visibility and perilous conditions. Multiple attempts were made using helicopters, including one on Tuesday morning, but each was forced to return. The Italian Search and Rescue Team from Valle d’Aosta reached the summit on foot on Tuesday morning but were unable to find the missing climbers.
Only when visibility improved early Tuesday afternoon was a helicopter from the French Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne de Chamonix Mont-Blanc able to take flight, eventually locating the four climbers.
The recent weather on Mont Blanc has been exceptionally dangerous, with temperatures falling to 5°F, winds of up to 93 mph, and nearly 20 inches of new snow. These conditions not only posed immediate threats to the climbers but also masked their trails, further complicating the search and rescue efforts.
Andrea Galimberti was a seasoned climber, while Sara Stefanelli had recently finished a mountaineering class. Only six days before their tragic Mont Blanc journey, the pair had successfully ascended the Matterhorn.
On the same day that the bodies were found, a separate incident occurred in which a 61-year-old Danish hiker fell to his death in the Mont Blanc massif. The man was navigating a steep area near Saint-Gervais-les-Bains when he slipped and fell approximately 98 feet, as reported by the mountain police service in Chamonix.
Mont Blanc, standing at 15,774 feet, draws many climbers but is also recognized for its dangers. It is estimated that between 6,000 and 8,000 mountaineering fatalities have happened on the mountain, mainly due to altitude illness, rockfalls, and avalanches. The recent incident underscores the risks associated with high-altitude mountaineering, even for experienced climbers.
An investigation into the incident has been initiated by local authorities. The mayor of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, where the Italian climbers started their ascent, indicated that although engaging a guide is advisable for climbing Mont Blanc, it is not obligatory. He stressed the importance of enhancing the quality of information given to climbers to help avert future tragedies.
