Italian Caver Ottavia Piana Rescued After 75-Hour Operation

The 32-year-old speleologist suffered serious injuries after a fall in a northern Italian cave, requiring a massive rescue effort involving 159 volunteers.

Ottavia Piana, an experienced Italian caver, was rescued early Wednesday after being trapped for over 75 hours in the Abisso Bueno Fonteno cave system near Bergamo.
Piana sustained multiple fractures, including to her vertebrae, ribs, and face, after falling 5-6 meters during an exploration of uncharted cave sections on December 14.
The rescue operation involved 159 specialists from 13 Italian regions, who worked continuously to navigate narrow tunnels and clear obstacles, sometimes using micro-explosives to widen passageways.
Doctors and nurses monitored and assisted Piana throughout the ordeal, and she was airlifted to a hospital upon reaching the surface.
This marks the second time Piana has required rescue from the same cave system, following a similar incident in mid-2023 where she suffered a leg injury.