Overview

• The woman fell into the lava tube on Etna’s south slope late Sunday morning, with reports placing the incident around 11:30 local time.
• CNSAS teams reached her underground and, with an emergency doctor on site, stabilized her before extraction.
• Rescuers used cave-rescue techniques, including a vacuum mattress and stretcher, to bring her to the surface.
• She was transported to the Rifugio Sapienza helipad at 1,910 meters and flown to hospital; the operation concluded around 13:30 with Guardia di Finanza support.
• Her dog, which also fell into the grotto, was recovered uninjured, and authorities have not provided a further medical prognosis for the hiker.