Alps survival: 70-year-old hiker found alive after five days

A 70-year-old hiker named Anna has been found alive after spending five days alone in the Alps near Sant’Anna di Vinadio. The woman, originally from Bersezio, had been hiking in the upper Valle Stura region in Cuneo.

The ordeal began after a thunderstorm forced her to seek shelter in rugged terrain. After her hiking companion had to turn back due to a shoulder injury, Anna continued alone. During a storm, she attempted to find safety by climbing rock faces, which left her stranded in an inaccessible area.

To survive, she sought shelter under fir trees and in rock crevices, sustaining herself on wild blueberries and stream water. Cristiano Bastonero, a delegate for the Soccorso alpino Alpi Marittime, coordinated the search and expressed the rescue team's relief at finding her alive.