A woman trapped in a cave in northern Italy has been rescued after four days, bringing an end to her ordeal. Ottavia Piana, a speleologist, fell while exploring the Bueno Fonteno cave near Bergamo on Saturday and fracturing her face, ribs, and knees.
Over 150 experts worked tirelessly to bring her to safety, navigating through narrow tunnels over 4km long. The rescue operation was accelerated due to concerns about her injuries, and a helicopter was used to transport her to hospital in Bergamo.
The rescue team described Piana as an experienced speleologist who had been properly equipped for the expedition. However, she has reportedly decided to abandon speleology forever after being rescued. A medical professional said that Piana is speaking very little but expressed a strong desire not to enter a cave again.
The National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps was involved in the rescue operation, with teams from across Italy working together to bring Piana to safety. The team’s vice-president noted that they worked with concern for both the clinical situation and the risks posed by the cave’s morphology.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/18/injured-italian-caver-lifted-to-safety-after-four-day-rescue-operation