Dutch hiker dies after falling into Crevasse near Engelberg, Switzerland

A 57-year-old Dutch man died on Monday after falling into a crevasse in Switzerland, near the town of Engelberg, local police report.

The man had gone walking in the area of Titlis, in the Alps, in the morning. He was reported missing in the evening after he had not come home. An hours-long search was launched, but the man was not found.

When the emergency services continued their search on Tuesday, they found the man’s body in the crevasse. Several services were involved in the rescue operation, including Alpine Rescue Switzerland and sniffer dogs from the Aargau Cantonal Police, Swiss newspaper Tagblatt reported. According to local media, the man was not a tourist and lived in the area.

This area is known for its narrow and treacherous glacier crevasses, which are especially dangerous in summer when meltwater partly conceals them.

Experts advise hikers to always travel in groups, carry safety equipment, and closely monitor weather conditions. According to local media, thousands of visitors come to the Engelberg area every year. This includes experienced climbers and recreational hikers.

A total of 36 people lost their lives while hiking in the mountains of the Swiss Alps in the summer of 2024. And although this was the lowest number of fatalities in the last 10 years, mountain hikers and climbers had to be rescued more frequently.