Six climbers die in separate Alpine accidents over weekend

Over the weekend of June 12‑13, six mountaineers were killed in accidents across the Alps.

On June 12, three Italian climbers from Trentino – Antonio Sardano (49), Sergio Martinelli (29) and Michael Zenatti (39) – perished after falling on the north wall of Gran Paradiso (about 3,600 m) in Italy. Their bodies were recovered following a rescue call by the mountain‑rescue service.

The next day, two hikers died on the French side of Mont Blanc at the Kuffner ridge of Mont Maudit; the French Gendarmerie Alpine Rescue retrieved their remains and transferred them to the Chamonix morgue. A foreign climber also died on the Matterhorn’s Pic Tyndall (4,478 m) after a fall; Swiss Air Zermatt and Italian Aosta rescue teams recovered the body. Another climber was found dead on the Brenva glacier near Mont Blanc.

Investigations are being led by the Italian financial police’s alpine unit (SAGF) in Breuil‑Cervinia and by local rescue authorities. The incidents highlight safety concerns on high‑altitude Alpine routes.