Italian woman rescued from cave after three-day ordeal

Emergency teams in Italy rescued a cave explorer early Wednesday after a harrowing 75-hour operation to free her from a cave system where she was injured in a fall.

Ottavia Piana, 32, was carried out of the Abisso Bueno Fonteno cave network on a stretcher shortly before 3 a.m. (0200 GMT) and airlifted to a hospital in Bergamo.

She had fallen about eight meters (26 feet) underground on Saturday, suffering injuries to her back, ribs, facial bones, and knee. Rescuers found her trapped approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the cave entrance.

"She was conscious but tired and clearly in pain," Federico Catania of the mountain and cave rescue group CNSAS told RTL 102.5 radio.

Specialist teams accelerated the complex mission by using small explosive charges to remove obstacles.

"The speleologist also did her part, demonstrating great resilience," Catania added. "In the final hours, she was able to hold out without medical breaks."

This was not Piana’s first ordeal in the Abisso Bueno Fonteno cave. In July 2023, she endured 40 hours trapped in the same network after another accident.

Her second rescue in under 18 months has drawn some criticism in Italy, with questions about her decision to return to the cave. However, Catania defended her expertise.

"She had the right equipment and knowledge," he said. "This was an unfortunate situation, not reckless behavior."

Piana is an experienced speleologist, known for her passion for exploring Italy’s intricate cave systems. Her survival has brought relief to Italians following the dramatic mission.