Body Of Hiker Missing For 37 Years Found In Thawing Glacier

After 37 years, the remains of a hiker, who went missing were discovered on a thawing glacier close to the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps.

According to a press release by the Valais Cantonal Police in Switzerland, a German mountaineer aged 38, was reported missing in September 1986 after not returning from a hike.

Authorities had confirmed that last month on July 12, climbers traversing the Theodul Glacier in the southern Alps near the Matterhorn made a discovery of human remains along with several pieces of equipment.

“The entire discovery was transported to Sion, to the forensic medicine department of the Valais Hospital, to be examined there in collaboration with the forensic identification section of the Valais cantonal police.

“A DNA comparison has established that it was indeed the mountaineer who has been missing since September 1986,” The police said.

The identity of the man was not disclosed but a single picture of the scene where he was discovered of a wet, red-laced hiking boot next to several items of rusted hiking equipment was released.

“The receding glaciers are increasingly bringing in mountaineers, It is unclear if the man still has any existing next of kin to be notified of his death. The investigation into his death is ongoing,” police stated.