Get you up to speed: Tourist falls ‘1,000 feet’ to her death in Italy while taking photo | News World
Michelle Alejandra Rubio Leiva, a 36-year-old American tourist from Florida, fell approximately 300 metres while hiking in the Dolomites, near Forcella Pordoi above Canazei, Italy, on 17 October. Medical personnel pronounced her dead at the scene shortly after rescue efforts commenced.
The investigation into Michelle Alejandra Rubio Leiva’s death is ongoing, with authorities focusing on the circumstances surrounding her fall from the mountain. More than 80 fatalities have been reported in the Dolomites this year, a significant increase from the historical average of approximately 10 annual deaths attributed to mountain accidents.
Authorities in Italy confirmed that the tragic death of Michelle Alejandra Rubio Leiva, 36, was reported following an incident in the Dolomites on October 17, where she slipped from a marked path. The Italian Alpine Rescue unit has noted an alarming rise in fatalities this year, with over 80 deaths already recorded, prompting officials to issue warnings about the dangers posed by steep slopes and loose gravel in popular hiking areas.
What remains unclear — The exact height from which Michelle Leiva fell is disputed, with reports varying between approximately 200 metres and nearly 1,000 feet.
American tourist falls to her death while hiking in the Italian Dolomites
An American tourist sadly died while on holiday in the Italian Dolomites (Picture: Jam Press)
A 36-year-old American woman died after falling off a cliff in Italy while attempting to take a picture.
Michelle Alejandra Rubio Leiva from Florida was on holiday with her family in the Dolomites when the incident took place on October 17, according to local Italian outlets.
Leiva had been hiking in the Val di Fassa, a scenic alpine valley in Trentino,when she reportedly strayed from a designated mountain path to take a photo. Tragically, she lost her footing and plunged almost 1,000 feet down the slope, CNN stated.
However, other reports differ on how far she fell, as Il Dolomiti reported it was approximately 656 feet.
Reports differ on how far Leiva fell (Picture: Jam Press)
Leiva’s sister saw her sibling fall and called emergency services around 12pm local time. A rescuer reached the site of the incident and provided Leiva’s location coordinates to an air rescue technician.
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Sadly, when the technician and medics arrived on the scene it was too late and Leiva was pronounced dead. The recovery operation lasted several hours and concluded at about 2:30pm local time, Il Dolomiti reported.
Leiva’s death was announced later in the week after her next of kin were notified, police say.
Her family members who were with her at the time were airlifted to Canazei, a premier alpine municipality and ski resort located in the upper Val di Fassa, while her body was retrieved, CNN reports.
Leiva, her family, and the rest of the tour group were on their way to a cable car station to take them to the summit of Sass Pordoi, where they were supposed to have dinner at a renowned mountaintop restaurant when the accident happened.
This part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site is only accessible by cable car and, at its highest, reaches 9,344 feet.
The Dolomites as a whole are known for their panoramic views, dramatic rock formations, and unique fossil records.
More than 80 people have died in the Dolomites this year (Picture: Universal Images Group Editorial)
Recently, the Dolomites have surged in popularity, driven by social media tourism, viral TikTok trends, and ‘coolcations’ as travellers swap extreme heatwaves in southern Europe and coastal areas for cooler climes.
The Italian Alpine Rescue unit told CNN that the region’s hiking areas can be dangerous due to steep slopes, loose gravel and falling rocks.
The outlet reported that more than 80 people have died in the Dolomites this year alone.
This is a huge increase, as the Dolomites traditionally average about 10 deaths per year from mountain accidents. Totals vary significantly depending on weather conditions and visitor numbers.
Levia’s sister saw her sibling tumble to her death (Picture: Jam Press)
Leiva was born in Guatemala and graduated from Brigham Young University, a private research institution, in Provo, Utah, in 2012.
She went on to work in communications, marketing and business development.
In 2025, Leiva worked remotely in Rome in consulting and participated in volunteer work, including supporting young people and disadvantaged communities.
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