American Tourist Dies in 1,000-Foot Fall on Italian Hike

WHO:

CNN - Michelle Alejandra Rubio-Leiva, a 36-year-old woman from Miami, Florida, died while hiking in Italy.

CNN - Rubio-Leiva was vacationing with family members; her sister was with her and alerted emergency services after the fall.

CNN - The Trentino Alpine and Cave Rescue Services, a rescue helicopter team, local carabinieri, and Italian Alpine Rescue were involved in the response or provided information.

NY Post - The article described the victim as an American tourist.

WHAT:

CNN - Rubio-Leiva fell more than 300 meters (around 1,000 feet) and died.

CNN - Emergency responders recovered her body; the recovery operation lasted several hours.

CNN - Her family members were airlifted to Canazei while her body was retrieved.

CNN - Italian Alpine Rescue said more than 80 people had died in the Dolomites in 2026 so far.

NY Post - The tourist plunged almost 1,000 feet to her death while taking a photo.

WHERE:

CNN - The fall occurred on the Forcella Pordoi trail, in the Sella group of the Italian Dolomites, in northern Italy’s Trentino area.

CNN - The trail is a high-altitude UNESCO World Heritage Site, accessible only by cable car, with a highest point of 2,848 meters (9,344 feet).

NY Post - The pass is accessible by cable car and is difficult to walk because of its steepness and loose gravel.

WHEN:

CNN - Rubio-Leiva’s death was announced late in the week after her next of kin were notified.

CNN - Police said the fall happened on a Saturday.

WHY:

CNN - Emergency workers told local media that Rubio-Leiva and her sister left the trail to reach a steep, exposed spot on an upper cliff to take a picture; Rubio-Leiva slipped.

NY Post - Reports in Italy said the pass’s steepness and loose gravel, which makes it harder to grip, may have contributed to the slip.

HOW:

CNN - Rubio-Leiva’s sister alerted emergency services, which sent specialists from the Trentino Alpine and Cave Rescue Services and a rescue helicopter to descend to the recovery location.

CNN - Responders recovered Rubio-Leiva’s body from the canyon below.

CNN - The hiking area is known for steep inclines, loose gravel, and falling rocks.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 13:23 UTC)

A 36-year-old Miami woman died after falling nearly 1,000 feet while hiking in Italy’s Dolomites. Michelle Alejandra Rubio-Leiva was on vacation with relatives, including her sister, when the fall happened on the Forcella Pordoi trail in the Sella group. Emergency workers said the sisters had left the trail to reach an exposed spot on an upper cliff to take a picture, and Rubio-Leiva slipped. The high-altitude area is steep, with loose gravel and falling rocks; the difficult trail is accessible by cable car. Her sister called for help, bringing in Alpine rescue specialists, a helicopter team and local carabinieri. Rescuers recovered Rubio-Leiva’s body from a canyon below, in an operation that lasted several hours. Her family members were flown to Canazei while crews worked. Italian Alpine Rescue said more than 80 people had died in the Dolomites so far in 2026.