ROME – A total of three people have died during three separate tragedies in the mountains in north Italy; one German alpinist and two hikers, local rescue sources said on Tuesday.  

 The first tragedy took place in the Cevedale Mountain range in northern Italy. Four german men between 40 and 50 years old were hiking together and had just started their descent when the rocks beneath their feet gave way. One man fell down a ravine with a sharp drop of 200 metres and died on impact. The alarm was raised around 1.p.m by one of the three companions and rescue team from Martello valley came by helicopter; however, due to strong winds, landing was impossible and rescuers had to be lowered with a hoist. Nothing could be done for the fallen man and his body was brought to the chapel mortuary in Martello. The three other companions were quickly brought to safety and none have reported serious injuries.

 Similarly, in Brescia, a hiker was hit by a cascade of stones along a narrow pathway, and, having suffered serious injuries, died a short while after being rescued. The 63-year-old resident was part of a group of three people and had been trapped under a rock of around a metre in diametre. The accident took place on Sunday night on the Cresta del Brouillard, 4000 metres high, along the pathway that leads to the Monte Bianco. A group of climbers were similarly hit by loose stones. Two hikers – one from Florence and one from Milan – were both injured.

 The final tragedy took place on Sunday afternoon in the Brembana valley in Mezzoldo near Milan; a 74-year-old hiker had gone out with a friend collecting mushrooms but lost his balance and fell into a quick-moving stream nearby. A doctor who happened to be in area treated him with emergency first aid and a helicopter rescue team were called, but his injuries were too serious and he later died.

 cb