A family of skiers were found dead in the Swiss Alps after "freezing to death" during a "catastrophic" snow storm.
The group of six - aged between 21 to 58 - tried to build a snow cave to shelter from the weather and sent a distress call to emergency services around 5pm on Saturday afternoon.
However, rescue teams were unable to help the group due to the ferocity of the storm.
The family left Zermatt Saturday morning and planned to travel to Arolla, near the Matterhorn mountain.
A family of skiers were found dead in the Swiss Alps after "freezing to death" during a "catastrophic" snow storm
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But Tete Blanche became engulfed in a storm - leaving the skiers stranded at an altitude of around 11,400ft (3,500 metres).
On Sunday evening, a rescue team said they found an "ugly" picture with five of the six skiers dead.
Teams are continuing a search for the sixth missing person.
Police said they believe five of the six are from the same Swiss family.
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Anjan Truffer, head of rescue at Air Zermatt who conducted the rescue operation said: "The picture we found was ugly... We saw that the ski tourers had tried to build a cave and protect themselves from the wind.
"The ski tourers froze to death at altitude, disorientated".
He added that their bodies were found scattered - suggesting they had panicked before losing consciousness.
Christian Varone, head of Valais cantonal police said: "We were trying the impossible," and they were forced to turn around to avoid "seriously endangering the lives of the rescue workers".
On Sunday evening, a rescue team said they found an "ugly" picture with five of the six skiers dead
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"Sometimes you have to bow before nature," he added.
Officers said a team of two rescue workers, a doctor and a mountain police officer were able to be dropped off by helicopter nearby at 9.20pm.
Police are yet to reveal the identities of those involved.
