**Caver Rescued Again from Italian Caverns After Serious Fall**

**In a dramatic rescue operation lasting 75 hours, Ottavia Piana was saved from the depths of the Abisso Bueno Fonteno cave in Italy for the second time in 17 months after sustaining significant injuries while exploring.**

Caver Ottavia Piana, 32, was airlifted to safety following a hazardous rescue in a previously uncharted section of the Abisso Bueno Fonteno cave located in the Bergamo province of northern Italy. Piana, known for her expertise in spelunking, found herself in distress after a rock dislodged beneath her, causing her to plummet approximately 5-6 meters (16-19 ft) and injuring her vertebrae, face, ribs, and knee.

Over 150 volunteers, coordinated by Italy's Alpine and cave rescue services, mobilized to save Piana. Her evacuation concluded early Wednesday morning, around 03:00 local time (02:00 GMT).

Giorgio Pannuzzo, a rescuer who accompanied Piana during the incident, reported, "She's tired, exhausted, and in pain... We have succeeded," highlighting the urgency of their mission, particularly due to the freezing winds threatening her condition outside the cave.

Piana was engaged in a mapping expedition of the uncharted cave system when her accident occurred. The region between Lake Iseo and Lake Endine features an intricate maze of undiscovered caves and tunnels. Rescue teams operated under the pressure of Piana's injuries, with volunteers regularly switching out to carry her stretcher and navigate numerous obstacles along the difficult path to safety.

The Alpine rescue service (CNSAS) confirmed that 159 volunteers from 13 regions of Italy participated in the strenuous 75-hour mission. Piana, under continuous care from six doctors and eight nurses, notably expressed her reluctance to return to the cave after her rescue.