A Descent Error That Could Have Been Fatal
Last Wednesday afternoon, a 53-year-old climber and his wife were rappelling down from the summit of the Campanile di Val Montanaia, an iconic rock spire in the Friulian Dolomites in northeastern Italy. However, something went wrong: they took a wrong line from a wide ledge on the mountain and drifted too far to the west.
The man descended about 50 meters but became trapped in the air, unable to continue or climb back up. His wife remained on the ledge waiting for help. The situation was critical: the risk of harness hang syndrome — a circulatory complication that can cause fainting, kidney damage, and even death when a person remains motionless and suspended by a harness for an extended period — was imminent.
A Warning That Came From the Base
A group of people at the base of the rock spire noticed the couple's difficulties. With no direct communication from the site, they walked to a mountain hut about two and a half hours away to alert the regional emergency medical center.
Authorities immediately deployed members of the Valcellina alpine rescue station, the regional air rescue service, and an ambulance. But weather conditions were unfavorable: fog and poor visibility prevented the helicopter from reaching the climber directly. Additionally, the wind generated by the aircraft's rotors could dislodge rocks, endangering both the man and the rescuer who needed to assist him.
A Precision Nighttime Operation
The rescuers modified their approach. The helicopter approached from another side of the mountain and dropped off three team members at a higher elevation. The specialists carried several 200-meter ropes to complete the traverse to where the couple was located.
The team reached the ledge at nightfall. From there, one rescuer rappelled down to reach the climber, secured him with the appropriate equipment, and cut the ropes that held him suspended. Then, they accompanied him down to the base.
The man showed signs of exhaustion from the hours spent hanging, but he remained lucid throughout the entire procedure. The operation began at 6:50 PM and concluded around 1:00 AM, according to the local media outlet Corriere della Sera.
The climber was taken to the base and then received medical attention. Fortunately, the ending was happy: he survived an experience that could have ended in tragedy.
Source: La Nación / Corriere della Sera