Tourist dies after 300-metre fall while taking panoramic photo in the Italian Dolomites

A 36-year-old tourist, Michelle Alejandra Rubio-Leiva, died on Saturday after falling more than 300 metres from a cliff on the Forcella Pordoi trail in the Italian Dolomites, where she had stepped off the path to take a panoramic photo. Alpine rescue services count more than 80 deaths in the area so far this year.

The mountain charges no admission, but sometimes it takes its toll. **Michelle Alejandra Rubio-Leiva**, **36**, a Miami resident, fell to her death on Saturday from a steep spot on the Forcella Pordoi trail, in the Sella massif in the Italian Dolomites. The police in the province of Trentino confirmed the death and announced it at the end of the weekend, once the closest relatives had been notified. The body was recovered after an operation lasting several hours.

## A detour of a few metres and a 300-metre fall

Rubio-Leiva was on holiday with relatives. She stepped off the trail alongside her sister to walk up to a higher cliff and take a panoramic photograph. She slipped and fell into the canyon, according to emergency teams speaking to local media. Her sister alerted the rescue services.

A team from the Trentino Alpine and Speleological Rescue Service and a helicopter were dispatched to the scene. The relatives were flown to **Canazei** while the body was being recovered. The area is no walk in the park: steep slopes, loose gravel and falling rocks, according to the rescue unit.

## Forcella Pordoi, a 2,848-metre viewpoint

The site is a **UNESCO** World Heritage location, famous for its views and its zigzag canyon. It is accessible only by cable car and reaches a maximum altitude of **2,848 metres** (9,344 feet). That combination of easy access and exposed terrain attracts thousands of visitors every season.

The trail crosses high-alpine terrain. The altitude, the uneven ground and the temptation to leave the path in search of the perfect angle account for a large share of the accidents.

## More than 80 dead in the Dolomites this year

Italy's Alpine Rescue Service told CNN that more than **80 people** have died in the Dolomites so far this year. The figure includes hikers, climbers and tourists of all kinds. It is not an isolated statistic: the Italian mountains record incidents regularly throughout the season.

Photography has become an added risk factor on heavily trafficked trails. Straying a few metres off the path can lead to an unprotected ledge. The rescue teams' advice is clear: do not leave the marked trail and take extreme care on exposed terrain.