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Remains of a British climber identified on Swiss glacier after over 50 years

Photo of a glacier
The British alpinist was found on the Chessjen glacier near the village of Saas-Fee in August 2022. © Keystone / Laurent Gillieron

More than 50 years after the disappearance of a British climber in the Valais Alps, in southern Switzerland, his remains have been identified.

In August 2022, two mountain hikers discovered the bones of a man on the Chessjen glacier near the village of Saas-Fee.

After the human remains were found, they were taken to the forensic medicine department of the Valais hospital in Sion for examination.

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One year later, a DNA analysis revealed that the remains belonged to a British climber who had gone missing at the end of July 1971, the Valais cantonal police announced on Thursday.

+Remains of long-lost German alpinist found on Swiss glacier

Last year, various dossiers of missing persons from the Saas-Fee region were analysed. After an anthropological examination of the bones, the experts were able to narrow down the number of potential missing persons.

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In cooperation with specialists from Interpol Manchester and the authorities of Police Scotland, a relative of the victim was identified. A direct DNA comparison made it possible to prove that the bones found were those of the British climber.

The Valais police have a list of people who have gone missing since 1925. As a result of melting glaciers, bodies of people who have been missing for decades are increasingly being uncovered.

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