According to a statement published by the Air Zermatt rescue team, the two climbers had become stranded at a hut on the mountain for two days after weather conditions turned against them.
The team said it was one of the most difficult rescues they had attempted, after a first attempt to reach the stranded mountaineers had to be called off due to strong winds. It was also not possible to reach the hut on foot. Eventually, two days after the climbers had first reached the hut, they were rescued by the Air Zermatt helicopter, in spite of the poor conditions.
Both climbers were said to be doing well following their ordeal. According to the statement, they were rescued in the nick of time, as they had depleted their food reserves, and the subsequent weather forecast would have prevented any further rescue attempts until later this week.
