US tourist dies after falling hundreds of feet while hiking in Italy
Anthony ThompsonA Florida woman died after falling hundreds of feet from a cliff while hiking in Italy’s Dolomites with her family, according to local authorities.
Michelle Alejandra Rubio-Leiva, 36, of Miami, was visiting the Trentino region of northeastern Italy when she fell Oct. 17, police in the northern city of Trentino told CNN. Authorities announced her death later in the week after notifying her next of kin.
Rubio-Leiva had left the trail with her sister to reach a scenic viewpoint and take a photograph when she lost her footing and fell into a canyon, Italian outlets Corriere della Sera and Il Dolomiti reported.
Her sister witnessed the fall and alerted emergency services around noon local time, according to the Italian outlets.
How did the rescue operation unfold?
Emergency responders dispatched Alpine rescue specialists and a helicopter to the area near Forcella Pordoi, a high-altitude location in the Sella mountain group, CNN reported, citing local police.
A rescuer already in the area reached the site and provided the helicopter team with coordinates. Medical personnel reached Rubio-Leiva, but a doctor pronounced her dead at the scene, according to Il Dolomiti.
Rescuers airlifted her family members to the nearby mountain town of Canazei before recovering her body. The operation concluded at about 2:30 p.m. local time, Il Dolomiti reported.
Reports differ on how far Rubio-Leiva fell. CNN reported the plunge was more than 300 meters (about 1,000 feet), while Il Dolomiti reported it was approximately 200 meters (about 656 feet).
USA TODAY contacted the Trentino Alpine and Cave Rescue Services for additional information about the circumstances of the fall and the reported distance, but has not received a response.
What to know about the Dolomites
The Dolomites, a mountain range in northeastern Italy, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for their dramatic rock formations and panoramic views.
The fall occurred near Sass Pordoi, a popular mountain viewpoint above the Val di Fassa valley, Corriere della Sera and Il Dolomiti said.
The Italian Alpine Rescue unit told CNN that the region's hiking areas can be dangerous because of steep slopes, loose gravel and falling rocks. More than 80 people had died in the Dolomites in 2026, the outlet reported.
Who was Michelle Alejandra Rubio-Leiva?
Rubio-Leiva was born in Guatemala and graduated from Brigham Young University in 2012, People reported.
She worked in communications, marketing and business development and had professional ties to a Miami-based firm. She also worked in consulting in Rome in 2025 and volunteered in initiatives supporting young people and underserved communities, according to Corriere della Sera.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at [email protected] or on X @athompsonUSAT