Helicopter search halted as Canadian mountain runner remains missing on Matterhorn
Helicopter searches for Canadian runner Kalie McCrystal on the Matterhorn have been suspended after a full day of aerial sweeps failed to locate her. She was last seen heading toward the summit from the Jean-Antoine Carrel hut.
A dedicated helicopter effort to locate 38-year-old Canadian mountain runner and lawyer Kalie McCrystal has been called off after extensive aerial searches over the Italian side of the Matterhorn produced no evidence of her whereabouts. McCrystal was last observed on Tuesday near the Jean-Antoine Carrel hut at roughly 3,830 m, moving toward the summit to attempt a sub-five-hour Lion Ridge round-trip. Rescuers initially deployed a large air-ambulance helicopter before switching to a smaller craft capable of navigating narrow gullies, yet neither aircraft detected her.
Valerio Segor of the Valle d'Aosta mountain rescue service confirmed the final sighting involved a guide who saw her climbing quickly and hearing she was training for a record. Teams combed both the Italian and Swiss faces, employing a helicopter-mounted RECCO detector and trying to locate her cellphone, but found nothing. While the aerial component is paused, mountain guides who frequent the peak continue to monitor for any sign, and police are expected to provide new leads that could restart a focused search.
Why it matters
The disappearance of a high-profile athlete highlights the dangers of extreme mountain sports and the limits of rescue resources.
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