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After the ski touring accident in Valais, the funeral of the three brothers took place in Vex. The village is in mourning.
Everything stands still in the Valais village. After a funeral for two victims of the ski touring group took place in Vex and Evolène on Friday and Saturday, the three brothers will now say goodbye in Vex.
Legend:
The Valais village of Vex, at the entrance to Val d’Hérens.
SRF/Ruth Seeholzer
The five Valaisians come from the Val d’Hérens, above Sitten; an uncle, a cousin and three brothers. You had a fatal accident about a week ago on a ski tour from Zermatt to Arolla. The search for the missing sixth person, a woman from Freiburg, was stopped after consultation with her family.
Legend:
Many people have to watch the funeral in the church square.
SRF/Ruth Seeholzer
The sympathy in Vex is great. So big that many of the people have to watch the funeral on the church square, through the open church door. “It is very emotional to see how many people want to say goodbye to the brothers,” says SRF Wallis correspondent Ruth Seeholzer. “The sadness in the village is great.”
You are speechless. The only comfort is a hug.
Two priests look after the communities in Val ‘Hérens, including Vex and the funerals of the five family members. One is Etienne Catzeflies. Since the accident he hasn’t had a moment of peace and has barely slept. And the words were missing: “You are speechless. The only comfort is a hug.”
Legend:
There is great sadness in the village of Vex.
SRF/Ruth Seeholzer
The valley has already experienced other accidents, such as in the winter of 1999, when twelve people died in an avalanche in Evolène. “The misfortune has perhaps brought the people in the valley together a little more,” said the priest.
This also became visible last Thursday. The five coffins were laid out in the church in Vex, people came from all over the valley to give the holy water. So many that it took over five hours before everyone could walk past the coffins.