Verzegnis, Italy — May 16, 2026
A 23-year-old Austrian and a 24-year-old US citizen living in Germany were found dead after falling from a steep hiking trail in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northern Italy.
Rescue Operation Challenges
The bodies of the two hikers were located by a helicopter from the Friulian civil protection unit in the mountainous area between Piombada and Bottai peaks near Verzegnis, Udine province. The accident occurred in a location described as "very difficult to reach from the ground," requiring the use of a winch to recover the bodies.
Around 20 personnel from mountain rescue teams, police, and fire brigades combed the hiking trails in the area. The search operation was significantly hampered by bad weather conditions, which complicated efforts to locate and retrieve the victims.
