Elderly Woman Survives Four Nights Lost in the Alps with Help from a Fox and Rainwater

An 89-year-old woman, Giuseppina Bardelli, survived a harrowing four nights lost in the Italian Alps after she fell into a gully while foraging for mushrooms.

The incident occurred on August 21, when Giuseppina became dizzy and tumbled 20 feet down a remote area near Monterecchio, leaving her stranded in dense vegetation.

Her son, Sergio, raised the alarm when she didn’t return, prompting a large-scale search operation involving helicopters and drones.

Despite these efforts, it took search teams four days to locate Giuseppina, who had been surviving on rainwater collected from puddles and using natural cover to protect herself from the elements.

Remarkably, during her time in the wilderness, Giuseppina encountered a wild fox that repeatedly approached her. According to her son Roberto, the fox became a strange source of companionship during the ordeal.

Giuseppina reportedly recited the rosary each evening, prepared for the possibility that each day could be her last.

The search was particularly difficult due to the tall vegetation that obscured Giuseppina from view. Rescue teams finally located her on the fifth day, just as they were about to scale back their efforts.

Firefighter Silvio Rizzelli, who coordinated the operation, expressed surprise that she was found in such a challenging environment and noted her remarkable lucidity and resilience despite the ordeal.

Upon her rescue, Giuseppina humorously resisted the rescuers’ attempts to fit her with a neck brace, quipping, “Now you’re trying to kill me.” Her family, who had been anxiously awaiting news, were overwhelmed with relief and described their joy at her survival as “immense.”

Giuseppina is now recovering in hospital and is reported to be in good spirits. Her family credits her survival to her previous experience as a member of the Italian Alpine Club, which likely helped her endure the ordeal.