Two French hikers die in Bernese Alps mishap

Police said they were notified at 6am that the 55-year-old man and the 58-year-old woman had not returned from a hike in the Gurnigel area on Sunday.

The pair had followed a mountain trail above the municipality of Dârstetten, about 10 kilometres southwest of Thun, according to information given to police.

After two search flights by a Rega emergency rescue helicopter the bodies of the two hikers were spotted on the south side of the Nünenenfluh, a peak 2,101 metres high.

The victims were already dead by the time the rescue team reached them.

The cantonal police department is continuing to investigate what is being called an accident.