Canadian Skyrunner Kalie McCrystal Presumed Dead as Family Shares Emotional Statement

The family of Canadian skyrunner Kalie McCrystal has confirmed her presumed death after a two-week search on the Italian side of the Matterhorn, saying everything they now know suggests she fell while descending the mountain. McCrystal, 38, disappeared on September 1, 2026, while conducting a reconnaissance of the Italian side of the Matterhorn ahead of a planned record attempt. Despite an extensive search by Italian mountain rescue teams, she has not been found.

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In a statement released Tuesday, September 15, McCrystal’s family said the Guardia di Finanza mountain rescue team had worked tirelessly to explore every possible avenue during the search. They also thanked the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canadian Embassy for their support. “Everything we now know suggests she fell while descending,” the family said.

McCrystal was an experienced skyrunner and mountaineer from Squamish, British Columbia, with extensive experience in technical and high-altitude terrain. She had previously climbed the Matterhorn and was preparing for an attempt to climb and descend the 14,692-foot (4,478-meter) mountain via the Lion Ridge in less than five hours.

She was last seen on September 1 at approximately 3:45 p.m. while descending toward Cervinia after reaching the summit. The Skyrunner World Series said she was descending the Lion Ridge, with no further contact reported afterward.

Search teams from Italy and Switzerland conducted aerial and ground searches of the mountain, but no trace of McCrystal was located. The search was suspended after rescuers were unable to find her.

McCrystal was a prominent figure in the international skyrunning community and represented Canada in trail running. She had established a reputation for tackling demanding mountain objectives and had previously completed the Matterhorn.

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Her family said the outpouring of support from the skyrunning, Squamish and wider mountain communities had been overwhelming. They specifically thanked Hillary Gerardi, who first raised the alarm about McCrystal, along with friends and loved ones who mobilized from around the world during the search. Gerardi shared the statement by Wendy Cooper and Jodie McCrystal, Kalie’s mother and sister, on her social media.

“The Matterhorn is as majestic as it is unforgiving,” the family wrote.

The family said McCrystal’s previous experience on the mountain and in technical terrain made the circumstances particularly difficult to accept, but that they now believe she fell during her descent. “For our family, things will never be the same again,” they wrote. “Kalie meant so much to us as a sister and daughter, and the loss of her is something we will carry with us forever.”

The family ended by saying McCrystal was doing what made her feel most alive in her final moments and that she remains among the mountains where she felt most at home. Her body has not been recovered and the search has been discontinued.