Thanks to a DNA test confirmation, the remains found near the Matterhorn where matched to a Japanese climber.

Thanks to a DNA test confirmation, the remains found near the Matterhorn where matched to a Japanese climber.

On 11 September of 2018, a rescuer from Zermatt discovered bones of a human body and mountain gear at the foot of the Matterhorn. These are related to an accident in 2014.

Matterhorn Frisch Verschneit. Matterhorn in winter. Thanks to a DNA test confirmation, the remains found near the Matterhorn where matched to a Japanese climber.
Matterhorn Frisch Verschneit. Matterhorn in winter. Thanks to a DNA test confirmation, the remains found near the Matterhorn where matched to a Japanese climber.

On July 23rd, 2014, a 40-year-old Japanese mountaineer climbed the Matterhorn alone. He never returned and he was considered missing.

Time passed, and on September 11, 2018, a rescuer from Zermatt found the human bones and mountain gear at the foot of the wall on the eastern side of the Matterhorn – this was due to melting snow which allowed the bones and equipment to resurface.

DNA testing was done on the bones and this allowed to determine that these belonged to the Japanese mountaineer lost 4 years ago.

Matterhorn by Samuel Zeller. Thanks to a DNA test confirmation, the remains found near the Matterhorn where matched to a Japanese climber.
Matterhorn by Samuel Zeller. Thanks to a DNA test confirmation, the remains found near the Matterhorn where matched to a Japanese climber.

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Some boots from an old couple of Japanese climbers lost many more years ago, found in 2015. Thanks to a DNA test confirmation, the remains found near the Matterhorn where matched to a Japanese climber.
Some boots from an old couple of Japanese climbers lost many more years ago, found in 2015. Thanks to a DNA test confirmation, the remains found near the Matterhorn where matched to a Japanese climber.

See here the story of the last ice man brought back from a glacier, also at the Matterhorn.

Featured image: Matterhorn by Chris Holgersson. Thanks to a DNA test confirmation, the remains found near the Matterhorn where matched to a Japanese climber. 

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