Written by 
Abisso Bueno Fonteno, northern Italy. Credit: Mapcarta
An update on our previous story, the 32-year-old experienced caver, Ottavia Piana, has been airlifted to hospital after a gruelling 75-hour rescue. Piana fell approximately five metres during an expedition on Saturday, December 15, in the Abisso Bueno Fonteno cave system, northern Italy.
Piana sustained multiple injuries, including damage to her vertebrae, ribs, face, and knee.
More than 150 volunteers helped to free Ottavia Piana from the cave
The rescue, described as “a race against time” by volunteers, involved navigating treacherous tunnels, removing obstructions, and even using small explosive charges to clear the way. “The rescue operation went on uninterrupted for 75 hours,” CNSAS stated.
Rescuers had to endure freezing conditions near the cave’s entrance, making the situation even more urgent.
The team took turns carrying her stretcher through narrow tunnels and coordinating their efforts to bring her to the surface around 03:00 local time on Wednesday, December 18.
Ottavia Piana’s second cave rescue in 17 months
Remarkably, this is the second time in just over a year that Piana has had to be rescued from the same cave system. Despite her expertise, the challenges of the Abisso Bueno Fonteno caves highlight the risks involved in exploring these underground mazes.
While grateful for her rescue, Piana reportedly told her medical team that she never wanted to set foot in the cave again.
View all news in Italy.