This article recounts the challenging rescue operation that successfully brought Piana, who fell and sustained multiple injuries while exploring a cave, back to safety with the team of over 150 volunteers.
**Rescue Operation for Injured Caver in Northern Italy Concludes After 75 Hours**
**Rescue Operation for Injured Caver in Northern Italy Concludes After 75 Hours**
In a heroic effort, injured caver Ottavia Piana has been safely extracted from a cave in the Bergamo region following a grueling 75-hour rescue mission.
In a dramatic underground rescue that lasted over three days, 32-year-old caver Ottavia Piana was airlifted to safety after falling 16 to 19 feet in the Abisso Bueno Fonteno cave in Northern Italy. The incident occurred during an exploration mission aimed at mapping uncharted sections of the cave system. The fall resulted in severe injuries to her vertebrae, ribs, face, and knee.
The Alemannic Alpine Rescue Service coordinated the rescue, which mobilized over 150 volunteers from 13 regions across Italy. The challenging terrain required rescue teams to navigate narrow passages and occasionally utilize small explosives to clear the way. With constant monitoring from six doctors and eight nurses at the site, Piana was given immediate medical attention throughout the operation.
Rescue volunteer Giorgio Pannuzzo, who was with Piana at the time of her fall, described the urgency of the situation. He emphasized the need to work quickly, given the freezing conditions at the cave's entrance, which posed an additional risk to Piana's already precarious situation.
Piana, who has prior experience as a speleologist, remarked during her rescue that she could not imagine returning to the cave after this ordeal. The Abisso Bueno Fonteno cave system, which features interconnected networks of tunnels and undiscovered areas, remains largely uncharted, posing risks even to seasoned explorers like Piana.
This incident marks Piana's second rescue from the same cave system in just 17 months, raising concerns about safety standards in exploratory cave diving. The successful rescue operation showcases the dedication and skill of the volunteer rescuers, who persisted tirelessly despite the physical and environmental challenges throughout the 75-hour ordeal.
