Big scare in Livigno, two American skiers rescued thanks to drones

Great fear in Livigno: two American skiers, in Italy to attend the Winter Olympics, got lost during an off-piste descent. The individuals tried to return to their hotel but, also aided by the darkness of the evening, were stranded at altitude and could not find their way back. They subsequently raised the alarm by providing the GPS coordinates of their location and the rescue machine was activated immediately.

National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps (CNSAS) technicians responded to the scene along with a SAPR (Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems) team from the Fire Department. The’use of the drone was crucial: a beacon was mounted to the small aircraft, allowing rescuers to spot the two skiers in distress. The two individuals, once secured, suffered no major health consequences. The intervention was then concluded in the evening hours with the return of the operational teams.

The following is the reconstruction released by the Fire Department: “A complex rescue operation for two U.S. skiers stranded at altitude was successfully concluded in Livigno. With the onset of darkness and loss of orientation, the two young men had raised the alarm by providing their GPS coordinates. The synergy between the fire department’s SAPR (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems) core and Mountain Rescue Corps technicians was crucial: the drones, equipped with thermal imaging cameras, located the missing in the dark, then provided light from above during the recovery operation. Both skiers are in good health”.

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For the Winter Olympics, rescue teams have been significantly boosted in Livigno, Cortina d’Ampezzo and all the resorts hosting the competitions. The increase in specialized personnel, along with the use of new intervention equipment and advanced technologies, ensures even higher safety standards for athletes, staff and spectators. Additional medical units, alpine teams and mobile garrisons are operational and ready to deploy quickly. The drills carried out in recent months now allow for coordinated and effective management of any possible emergency, contributing to the smooth running of the competitions.