Mountain Rescues in Switzerland Rise

9th August 2022

Last modified on August 12th, 2022

In 2021, mountain rescuers were called out 3,680 times, according to the latest figures. This is 20% more than in 2019.

In 2021, mountain rescuers were called out 3,680 times, according to the latest figures.

This is 20% more than in 2019.

A mountain rescue is classified as a mountain emergency, regardless of whether it is an accident or an illness

Last year, there were 1,525 cases of hikers in distress, significantly more than in 2019, but less than in 2020.

Overall, hikers account for more than 40% of mountain rescues.

Summer in the mountains. Image © PlanetSKI.

People on ski trips needed help 500 times and mountaineers on high-altitude climbs, 424 times.

Image © PlanetSKI

Assistance was also given to mountain bikers, climbers, hang-gliders, paragliders and off-piste skiers.

In almost half of the cases falls were the main reason for calling out the mountain rescue services.

A quarter of the hikers suffered from exhaustion, and 17% suffered other illnesses.

In 8% of the cases, people got lost and needed help.

“Walkers need to be better informed. The authorities have a duty to provide as much information as possible about the dangers of mountain hiking,” said the man responsible for mountain emergency statistics at the Swiss Alpine Club SAC, Bruno Hasler.

He was speaking to Swiss public television SRF.

There is already an official accident prevention campaign, “but obviously it is not yet reaching all the people it should,” Hasler said.

Hasler says that many people overestimate their capabilities on the mountainside across the range of activities.

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