Nguyen Thanh Tung, a resident of Mine City, Germany and an experienced mountaineer, had long dreamed of conquering the Matterhorn, which straddles the border of Italy and Switzerland. On Sept. 24, Swiss rescuers from Zermatt municipality safely brought him and another Vietnamese climber down from the mountain. They had been stranded there for 31 hours.
“I’ve dreamed about conquering this mountain for a long time,” Tung said.
Having already climbed several mountains in Germany and made 7-8 previous trips to Switzerland for mountaineering, the Matterhorn held a special appeal for Tung. After months of preparation and training, he and his friend set out from Germany to Switzerland on Sept. 20 to attempt the climb.
The duo rested in Zermatt village, located at the foot of the Matterhorn, before beginning their ascent on the morning of Sept. 21. By 6:30 p.m., they had reached a checkpoint at 3,200 m above sea level, where they stayed for the night. Early the next morning, they resumed their climb and reached 4,150 m by 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 22, just 400 m short of the summit. Realizing that descending from the peak would take too long, they decided to turn back.
As they descended to 3,700 m, a blizzard hit. The worsening weather and deepening snow blocked their path, forcing them to stop. With nightfall approaching and temperatures plummeting, they sought shelter near cliffs to protect themselves from the wind. Despite having prepared adequate gear, Tung lost his high boots during the ascent and was forced to continue in low shoes.
Tung recalled that he always carries a Vietnamese flag when he travels. Made of plastic, the flag provided vital protection against the wind and cold. Wrapping it around the body helped prevent hypothermia, he said.
Attempts to call for help were initially futile, as the Zermatt rescue station had closed for the day. Tung and his companion had no choice but to wait through the night. By morning, at 6 a.m. on Sept. 23, Tung was able to reach the rescuers, who instructed him to contact helicopter services. However, due to poor weather, helicopters could not take off. Rescuers advised the pair to stay calm, breathe deeply, keep their phones warm to prevent shutdown and wait for updates.
Only the outer layers of their clothing got wet, Tung said. The food they had brought was frozen, forcing Tung to eat snow to quench his thirst. “I ate three candies to sustain myself,” he added.
The situation grew more desperate as rescuers informed them that if conditions did not improve, they might have to wait until the next day. “I told them I couldn’t wait any longer; we had already been in the blizzard for too long,” Tung said.
By noon, rescuers informed Tung that three searchers had been dispatched. The rescue team reached them at 2:25 p.m. and began the descent, finally arriving at a hut by 7 p.m.
At 2 a.m. on Sept. 24, the weather cleared enough for helicopters to take off, and the group was flown to safety in Zermatt village, ending the 14-hour rescue mission. In total, Tung and his friend had been stranded on the mountain for 31 hours.
Despite minor bruises from impact with rocks during the descent, both climbers were in stable condition. After resting briefly, Tung drove 12 hours back to Germany. His wife, however, has urged him to give up mountaineering.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Tung advised people stranded on mountains to stay calm and call for help. “If you’re taking a difficult or dangerous route, it’s best to hire a guide and make sure you’re trained.”
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