Italian mountain rescues aid hikers and tourists after falls, illness and injuries in July 2026

A 60‑year‑old German hiker died after a 200‑metre vertical fall near the Plan refuge in Val Passiria, South Tyrol. Local authorities are investigating the circumstances.

An 80‑year‑old man was discovered dead on a trail above Tesimo in the Merano district; rescue teams including the Alpine Guard, finance police, drones and search dogs participated in the operation.

An 18‑year‑old Israeli tourist suffered serious injuries when he jumped from a 20‑metre cliff at the Ponte del Ciolo in Salento despite posted bans. He was air‑lifted to the Dea Fazzi hospital in Lecce with head trauma.

A 62‑year‑old woman from Cesena experienced an anaphylactic shock after an insect sting while on a beach near Ancona. She was treated by the Red Cross president and emergency medics with cortisone and monitored at a local infirmary.

Helicopter search‑and‑rescue units of the Italian Air Force’s 82nd SAR Centre, together with the Sicilian Alpine and Speleological Rescue Service, successfully retrieved a 36‑year‑old man on Marettimo island and a 70‑year‑old man on Monte Cofano after medical emergencies, using HH‑139B helicopters and winch extraction.