Explorer rescued from same Italian cave for second time
3 min read
Caver Ottavia Piana, 32, has been airlifted to the hospital after a difficult and lengthy rescue from a deep underground cave system in the Bergamo area of northern Italy. Piana, an experienced speleologist, fell several meters in the Abisso Bueno Fonteno cave on Saturday afternoon while exploring an uncharted area. She sustained significant injuries, including damage to her vertebrae, ribs, face, and knee.
The rescue operation was an extensive and complex effort, involving over 150 volunteers led by Italy’s Alpine and Cave Rescue Corps. After 75 hours of painstaking work, Piana was brought to safety around 03:00 on Wednesday morning (02:00 GMT), with the rescuers having to navigate narrow, treacherous tunnels and sometimes using small explosive charges to clear the path. Piana was placed on a stretcher and carefully carried through the cave, overcoming multiple obstacles along the way.
Piana’s injuries were serious enough that rescuers were under intense pressure to get her out quickly. The narrow passages and challenging conditions of the cave system posed significant challenges, especially as the temperature near the cave’s entrance was freezing. “If we’d stopped, she would have suffered even more from the cold,” said Giorgio Pannuzzo, a rescue volunteer who was with Piana when she fell. “We had to act quickly.” Despite her critical condition, Piana was constantly monitored by a team of six doctors and eight nurses during the operation.
This was not the first time Piana had been rescued from the same cave system. In the past 17 months, she had faced a similar ordeal, highlighting the risks involved in exploring the largely uncharted caves in the region. Piana was part of a project to map out previously unknown sections of the Abisso Bueno Fonteno cave system, which is located between Lake Iseo and Lake Endine. The region is home to a vast network of caves, tunnels, and underground galleries, many of which have never been explored.
The rescue team worked against the clock, aware that every minute counted due to the gravity of her injuries. Rescuers had to carefully navigate difficult terrain and work in cramped conditions. “We had to carry her stretcher over many obstacles. At times, the tunnels were so narrow that we had to move slowly and carefully,” said one of the volunteers involved in the operation.
The rescue operation required coordination between volunteers from across Italy, with 159 individuals from 13 regions participating. The team worked tirelessly to extricate Piana from the cave while ensuring her safety throughout the ordeal. Despite the pain, Piana remained remarkably calm, and throughout the operation, she told her doctors that she never wanted to return to the cave again.
As the rescue operation unfolded, the teams made use of specialized cave rescue techniques, which involved dealing with the physical and logistical challenges of working in such confined and hazardous spaces. Rescuers also had to deal with constant risks, including the need to clear debris and maintain a path through various obstacles within the cave. The cooperation of volunteers from various regions and the medical team’s quick response were crucial in ensuring Piana’s survival.
The operation was a testament to the skill and resilience of Italy’s Alpine and Cave Rescue Corps, which specializes in high-risk, life-saving operations in difficult terrain. Their ability to act swiftly and with precision in such challenging conditions was key to the success of the mission.
Piana, who has now been safely evacuated from the cave, was exhausted and in considerable pain. The experience, however, marked the end of her latest adventure in the dangerous and mysterious world of underground exploration. While she expressed gratitude for the rescue efforts, she vowed never to return to the cave again, citing the terrifying experience as too much to endure once more.
The rescue mission has drawn widespread attention due to the intensity of the operation and the difficult conditions under which it took place. Piana’s return to safety has been hailed as a victory for both the rescue teams and the caving community, highlighting the courage and determination of those involved in such high-stakes missions.
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