The rescue, initiated by the Zermatt rescue team, began at 7 a.m. local time on September 23 after they received distress signals from the climbers.

Adverse weather conditions posed significant challenges to the rescue efforts, preventing any possibility of an air or ground vehicle approach. Air Zermatt, the helicopter service provider specializing in Alpine rescues, determined that the only viable option was a mountain ascent by their expert rescuers.

According to a report on Air Zermatt’s official page, the rescue team used a cable car to reach Schwarzsee point on the mountain, from where they climbed to the climbers' location and rappelled down to reach them.

The climbers were found in a precarious position at an altitude of approximately 3,500 meters, suffering from severe hypothermia due to inadequate footwear.

"The two climbers were stuck in a treacherous terrain, wearing only thin, low-soled shoes, which drastically lowered their body temperatures," stated the report from Air Zermatt.

The rescuers then managed to secure and transport the climbers back to the standard trail using a specialized cable rescue system.

The group gathered at the Hornlihutte base camp on the Matterhorn to wait for a helicopter for final evacuation.

The operation concluded successfully after 14 hours, with the climbers being safely flown out around 2 a.m. on September 24 and subsequently receiving medical attention.

Air Zermatt reflected on the incident, noting that without timely intervention, the Vietnamese climbers might not have survived the harsh conditions on the snowy mountain.

Do An