**Ottavia Piana, a seasoned speleologist, was trapped for over three days after a fall during an expedition.**
**Italian Caver Rescued After 75-Hour Ordeal Deep in Bergamo Cave System**
**Italian Caver Rescued After 75-Hour Ordeal Deep in Bergamo Cave System**
**A harrowing rescue operation ends with the safe extraction of an injured caver, highlighting the challenges of underground rescues.**
In a dramatic rescue effort, experienced speleologist Ottavia Piana, aged 32, has been successfully airlifted to safety after a harrowing 75-hour ordeal in the depths of the Abisso Bueno Fonteno cave in northern Italy’s Bergamo region. Piana sustained serious injuries to her vertebrae, ribs, face, and knee when a rock beneath her gave way, leading her to fall approximately 5-6 meters (16-19 feet) on Saturday afternoon.
The rescue operation mobilized over 150 volunteers, including Italy's Alpine and cave rescue corps, and culminated in her extraction at around 03:00 (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday morning. Rescuers expressed their relief and determination, emphasizing the urgency of the situation due to Piana's injuries and the freezing winds at the cave's entrance. Giorgio Pannuzzo, a volunteer present during the incident, stated, "We were in a rush... if we'd stopped, she would have suffered even more from the cold."
Piana, engaged in a mapping project of an unexplored section of the cave, had previously encountered a rescue in the same area just 17 months prior. Describing her experience, she reportedly expressed her wish to never return to the cave again.
The operation involved meticulous planning and physical endurance as rescuers navigated through narrow tunnels and occasionally employed small explosives to clear debris. The National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps (CNSAS) confirmed that 159 volunteers from across 13 Italian regions participated in the effort, with a medical team comprising six doctors and eight nurses providing constant care throughout the process.
Despite the rescue having concluded, Piana's journey through the caves will undoubtedly resonate as a testament to the perils faced by those who delve into the earth's unexplored wonders.
The rescue operation mobilized over 150 volunteers, including Italy's Alpine and cave rescue corps, and culminated in her extraction at around 03:00 (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday morning. Rescuers expressed their relief and determination, emphasizing the urgency of the situation due to Piana's injuries and the freezing winds at the cave's entrance. Giorgio Pannuzzo, a volunteer present during the incident, stated, "We were in a rush... if we'd stopped, she would have suffered even more from the cold."
Piana, engaged in a mapping project of an unexplored section of the cave, had previously encountered a rescue in the same area just 17 months prior. Describing her experience, she reportedly expressed her wish to never return to the cave again.
The operation involved meticulous planning and physical endurance as rescuers navigated through narrow tunnels and occasionally employed small explosives to clear debris. The National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps (CNSAS) confirmed that 159 volunteers from across 13 Italian regions participated in the effort, with a medical team comprising six doctors and eight nurses providing constant care throughout the process.
Despite the rescue having concluded, Piana's journey through the caves will undoubtedly resonate as a testament to the perils faced by those who delve into the earth's unexplored wonders.
