The Swiss voice in the world since 1935

Swiss glacier skeleton identified as missing Briton

Corbassière glacier in canton Valais
The Corbassière glacier is part of the Grand Combin region that is popular with winter sports enthusiasts. Keystone / Alessandro Della Bella

Human remains disgorged by a glacier in southwest Switzerland have been identified as a British man who was aged 32 when he went missing in the area nearly 50 years ago.

The skeleton of the man, who has not been named, was found poking out of the Corbassière glacier in canton Valais last September.

+ The grisly secrets being revealed by Swiss glaciers

DNA analysis and cooperation with the British authorities revealed the identity of the winter sports enthusiast who disappeared on New Year’s Eve 1974.

Switzerland’s shrinking glaciers are revealing more grisly secrets each year as they are continuously eroded by warming temperatures.

Along with the remains of several bodies, Swiss glaciers last year also disgorged the wreckage of a light aircraft that had crashed in 1968.

+ Read how Switzerland’s glaciers are disappearing

Increasing temperatures have reduced the volume of Alpine glaciers by about 60% since 1850.

Experts fear that most of Switzerland’s glaciers will have melted by the end of the century.

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

Investing in the US? Swiss companies are currently watching

More

Swiss companies reluctant to invest in US

This content was published on “Wait and see" seems to be the position adopted by large Swiss companies in the face of US President Donald Trump's trade policy.

Read more: Swiss companies reluctant to invest in US
Zurich city lake crossing to take place on 2 July

More

Swim across Lake Zurich to take place on July 2

This content was published on This year's Zurich city lake crossing is planned for 2 July. Should the weather not play ball or the water be too cold, two alternative dates are planned.

Read more: Swim across Lake Zurich to take place on July 2

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR