Higher proportion of foreigners died in Swiss mountains
Nearly two-thirds of the 114 people who died in mountain accidents in the Swiss Alps last year were foreigners – a higher proportion than in previous years, according to the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC).
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Fans of extreme sports such as paragliding, speed-flying, base jumping and mountain biking do not appear in these statistics, specifies the Swiss Alpine Club (CAS) in a press release. This figure of 114 deaths represents a slight increase compared to 2022 (109 deaths in the mountains), but a clear decrease compared to 2021 (131).
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Men are largely over-represented with 82 deaths (compared to 32 for women) as well as the 21-40 year old category. Hiking is at the top of the accidents resulting in death (51 deaths), followed by mountaineering (29), ski touring (11) and off-piste (7).
SAC explains the drop in the number of deaths in these last two sports by less frequentation of the mountains during the winter of 2022-2023 due to the lack of snow. Conversely, the favorable weather of the summer season has attracted many fans of mountain sports at altitude. SAC also had its best summer season in history.
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The year 2023 saw a peak in the number of foreign victims: 71 foreigners died in the Swiss mountains last year (62% of deaths), while the ten-year average is 45 (38%). Germans and Italians are by far the two most represented nationalities – with 21% and 17% respectively.
In addition, in 2023, around 3,500 people in distress situations had to be rescued in the Swiss Alps and the Jura. This figure is lower than in previous years, indicates SAC.
For its analysis, SAC compiled intervention data from Rega, Swiss Alpine Rescue (SAS), the Valais Cantonal Rescue Organization (OCVS) and other organizations active in mountain rescue.
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Translated from French by DeepL/mga
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