American tourist dies after falling from Italian Dolomites cliff

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 22:43 · Archive

A 36-year-old American woman died after falling approximately 1,000 feet down a cliff in the Italian Dolomites on 17 October while attempting to take a photograph.

Michelle Alejandra Rubio Leiva, a 36-year-old American from the Miami area, died on 17 October after falling down a cliff in the Italian Dolomites. She was hiking with her family near Forcella Pordoi, an alpine pass at approximately 2,750 metres altitude, when she reportedly left the designated trail to find a vantage point for a photograph. She lost her footing and fell down the slope in view of her sister.

Reports differ on the distance of the fall. CNN and Fox News stated she fell approximately 1,000 feet, whilst Italian newspaper Il Dolomiti reported it was approximately 656 feet. The Trentino Alpine and Speleological Rescue, the volunteer rescue organisation, confirmed the fall in official terms but noted only that she slipped at an exposed point, without specifically confirming the photograph-taking was the cause.

Rubio Leiva's sister witnessed the fall and called emergency services around 12pm local time. Rescuers located her but she was pronounced dead at the scene. The recovery operation concluded around 2:30pm. Her family members were airlifted to Canazei whilst her body was retrieved. The group had been heading to a cable car station to visit a mountain refuge for dinner when the accident occurred.

How it is being reported

• American tourist falls 1,000 feet to her death while chasing perfect mountain photoAn American tourist from Miami, Florida, reportedly left a marked trail in the Dolomites, Italy, to take a photo before she fell 1,000 feet to her tragic death.Fox News · 26 Oct, 20:00
• Tourist falls ‘1,000 feet’ to her death in Italy while taking photoAn American tourist sadly died while on holiday in the Italian Dolomites (Picture: Jam Press) A 36-year-old American woman died after falling off a cliff in Italy while attempting to take a picture. Michelle Alejandra Rubio Leiva from Florida was on holiday with her family in the Dolomites when…Metro · 26 Oct, 14:06

In this story: Michelle Alejandra Rubio Leiva · Dolomites · Florida · Forcella Pordoi · Trentino Alpine and Speleological Rescue

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem