The body of a hiker who vanished 37 years ago has been discovered on a thawing glacier near the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps. The hiker, a 38-year-old German mountaineer, was reported missing in September 1986 after failing to return from a hike, according to the Valais cantonal police in Switzerland.
On July 12th of this year, climbers exploring the Theodul Glacier near the Matterhorn stumbled upon human remains and several pieces of equipment. These findings were subsequently transported to the forensic medicine department of the Valais Hospital in Sion, where they were examined in collaboration with the forensic identification section of the Valais cantonal police. Through DNA comparison, it has been confirmed that the discovered remains belong to the missing mountaineer.
The Valais cantonal police have not revealed the man’s identity but shared a single photograph of the scene depicting a wet, red-laced hiking boot alongside rusted hiking equipment. This significant discovery highlights the impact of receding glaciers, which are increasingly revealing the bodies of lost mountaineers.
At present, it is unclear whether the man has any living relatives who can be informed of his tragic fate. The investigation into his death is ongoing.