Italian holidaymaker surprised by snowstorm – woman freezes to death next to her husband

A couple from Canada were surprised by a snowstorm while hiking in the Dolomites. The 57-year-old froze to death on the mountain, the man (56) survived.

Val Gardena – Italy's Dolomites are a hiking paradise par excellence. Every year the pale mountains in South Tyrol attract mountain tourists. Late summer and early autumn are considered the best times for hiking. But the enormous, early onset of winter in the north of Italy left many hikers in a predicament. A couple from Canada were surprised by a snowstorm at an altitude of over 2000 meters.

At the end of last week, a severe change in the weather affected the whole of Europe. While there is flooding in the lower areas, especially in Poland, the Czech Republic and Austria, the precipitation in the mountains is falling as snow. A couple (he 56, she 57 years old) from Canada set off on a mountain tour in the Dolomites on Friday (September 13th) shortly before the change in the weather.

Italy holidaymakers surprised in South Tyrol: Couple sets off for hike in South Tyrol shortly before snowstorm

They were walking below the Peitlerkofel (2875 meters) on the way from the Schlüterhütte (2297 meters) to the Puezhütte (2475 meters) when the snowstorm started. The couple lost their bearings in the snow and got lost. According to the South Tyrol Mountain Rescue Service, the two were at the end of their strength at around 8.45 p.m.

They were already suffering from severe hypothermia when she made the emergency call. Due to the snowstorm, the Pelikan 2 rescue helicopter could not be launched, so the Val Gardena mountain rescuers set out on foot. The innkeeper of the Puez hut and a prospective mountain guide also made their way to the hikers.

Italian holidaymaker freezes to death: Helicopter could not take off in South Tyrol due to the onset of winter

The latter was the first to reach the couple, administered first aid and waited with the couple for the mountain rescue team to arrive. The woman was already suffering from severe hypothermia at this point, but was still responsive. However, she was no longer able to walk or move at this point.

“Then it goes downhill quickly,” reports Hubert Moroder, the rescue station manager of the Val Gardena mountain rescue service, to Rai South Tyrol. The operation became a race against time. In order to warm up the hypothermic victims before the upcoming rescue, the Val Gardena mountain rescuers had packed a warm tent and two sleeping bags.

Emergency situation in the Dolomites becomes a battle against time

“But it was a two-hour walk,” said Moroder. “We tried again and again to take off in the helicopter, but it didn't work. Unfortunately, we lost the woman during that time.” When the mountain rescuers finally arrived, any help came too late for the 57-year-olds. According to the Val Gardena mountain rescuers, the two hikers were well equipped. “But the wind of around 50 km/h and the cold were too extreme,” Moroder told the TV station.

A warming tent was quickly set up for the woman's 56-year-old companion, who was also suffering from severe hypothermia. Two mountain rescuers spent the night with him on the mountain. Another rescue attempt by helicopter shortly after midnight had to be aborted.

At around 6 a.m. on Saturday, the helicopter from Aiut Alpin Dolomites was finally able to take off. Its crew rescued the 56-year-old using a cable winch and took the Canadian to the hospital in Bolzano. The woman's body was recovered during the morning and taken to the mortuary chapel in Selva.

Four mountain tourists also died on Mont Blanc after the sudden change in the weather. Eight mountaineers fell in an avalanche on Monterosa, including one star. Last week, a tourist fell to his death while hiking to an Instagram hotspot in the Tyrolean Zillertal (Austria). A total of seven people died in Austria's mountains. A priest died while descending from a mountain mass that he had celebrated.