Series of Alpine accidents injure and kill hikers in Italy and Austria

Two separate animal attacks on alpine trails left hikers badly injured. In Val di Sole, Trentino, a 26‑year‑old woman from Bergamo was struck by a stambecco that rushed from a cave, causing a fall of about 20 m and injuries to her abdomen and ankle. In the nearby Austrian Tyrol, a 64‑year‑old German woman was knocked off a path by a cow protecting its calf and fell ten metres, sustaining serious head wounds.

A fatal fall on the Monte Pisanino in the Alpi Apuane claimed the life of a 67‑year‑old man from Cascina, who slipped about 30 m while traversing the exposed “traverso” route. The accident occurred just days after another hiker had died on the same stretch.

In the Belluno province of Italy, a 74‑year‑old man from Conegliano disappeared on an obsolete trail near the Case Bortot area. After days of search, rescue teams recovered his body having fallen a considerable height on the old path, underscoring the danger of unmaintained routes.

The incidents have prompted renewed calls for hikers to avoid wildlife, stay on marked trails and verify that paths are up‑to‑date, as alpine rescue services continue to handle a high volume of emergencies.