In brief
Caver faces injuries after falling during an exploration of uncharted cave in Bergamo
In an extraordinary rescue mission, 32-year-old caver Ottavia Piana was airlifted to safety after a severe accident in the Abisso Bueno Fonteno cave in northern Italy. This incident marks the second time Piana has been rescued from this cave system in just 17 months. The dangerous fall occurred on Saturday afternoon when Piana was exploring an uncharted section of the cave, and a rock gave way, sending her tumbling 5-6 meters (16-19 feet). She suffered injuries to her vertebrae, ribs, face, and knee.A dedicated team of more than 150 volunteers, coordinated by Italy’s Alpine and cave rescue corps, worked tirelessly over 75 hours to bring Piana to safety. Her extraction was fraught with challenges, including navigating narrow tunnels and dealing with obstructions. Rescuers used small explosions to clear a path and were under pressure to move quickly due to Piana’s injuries and the cold conditions at the cave entrance. Giorgio Pannuzzo, a volunteer involved in the rescue, reported on Piana's condition after the lengthy ordeal: “She’s tired, exhausted and in pain...We have succeeded.” The rescue effort was meticulously organized, with 159 volunteers participating from 13 different regions of Italy. Piana received continuous medical attention from a team of six doctors and eight nurses throughout her extraction, ensuring her condition was monitored. Despite her experience as a speleologist, Piana expressed a strong aversion to returning to the cave following this traumatic experience. The Abisso Bueno Fonteno cave system, nestled between Lake Iseo and Lake Endine, remains largely unexplored, filled with hidden passages and underground galleries that grip the interest of many adventurers.
