Newsmaker

Famed Swiss climbing guide dies in fall

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-04-29 15:31

GENEVA - Famed Swiss mountain guide Erhard Loretan, one of the few to ever reach the summits of all 14 of the world's peaks above 8,000 meters, has died in a climbing fall on his 52nd birthday.

Swiss police said Friday that Loretan died leading a client up the summit ridge of the Grunhorn, in the Bernese Alps. The accident occurred on Thursday noon.

They say the pair skied up part way, then roped up for the final ascent. They fell for unknown reasons at 3,800 meters (12,500 feet) up the 4,043-meter (13,264-foot) peak.

Loretan died at the scene, and his 38-year-old Swiss client was flown to a hospital in serious condition.

Police are still investigating.