Body of British Climber Missing for 52 Years Identified
1st September 2023
His remains were found in Saas-Fee in Switzerland a year ago. It is the latest in a series of discoveries in the Alps as glaciers retreat. NEW
The man went missing in 1971 and despite an extensive search at the time he was not found.
On August 3rd, 2022, two mountaineers discovered human bones on Chessjengletscher near Saas-Fee.
They were transported to the forensic medicine department of the Valais Hospital in Sion, to be examined.
“After an anthropological examination of the bones, it was possible to further narrow down the probabilities of missing persons that could be considered,” said a statement from the local police.
“In collaboration with specialists from Interpol Manchester and the Scottish police authorities, a family member has been found.
“A direct DNA comparison has proven that the bones found were those of the British mountaineer who has been missing since late July 1971.”
His name has not been released by the police.
It is the latest discovery as the melting glaciers reveal the bodies of missing climbers, hikers and ski tourers.
There have been several over this summer:
- Melting Austrian glacier reveals body of missing skier
- Melting glacier above Zermatt reveals body of another missing person
- Melting Swiss glacier reveals human remains
Other items have also recently been found, from parts of planes to Iron Age tools, as we have reported on PlanetSKI:
- Receeding glaciers reveals wreckage from 1986 Swiss plane crash
- Newspapers from crashed jet found in melting ice
- Norway’s melting glaciers reveal Viking and Iron Age Finds
Retreating alpine glaciers. Image © PlanetSKI
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