Death of Canadian hiker, 56, one of many in Italy’s Dolomite mountains over last 10 years
In January 2017, a 24-year-old Waterloo, Ont., woman reportedly died while hiking in the mountains on New Year’s Day
Dolomite mountains
A 56-year-old Canadian woman has died in Italy’s Dolomite mountains after she was caught in a sudden snowstorm Thursday evening.
The woman was climbing with a 56-year-old male companion. The two climbers called the Italian Alpine Rescue Corps for help after being hit by the snowstorm about two kilometres from a mountain refuge, the Associated Press is reporting.
The rescuers reached the climbers, however the bad weather made evacuation of the woman by helicopter impossible. She subsequently died. Her companion was treated for severe hypothermia. Rescuers put up a tent to shelter her companion until the storm cleared. He was taken off the mountain by helicopter early Friday and is being treated at a hospital in northern Italy, according to AP.
Neither hiker has been identified.
A spokesperson Global Affairs Canada, Kevin Sweet, told the National Post that the department “is aware of the death of a Canadian citizen in Italy. Our thoughts go out to the family of the deceased individual. For privacy reasons, no further information can be disclosed.”
