An elderly grandmother in Italy, nearly ninety years old, recently had a miraculous rescue after getting lost during a mushroom-picking trip in the Alps and falling into a deep ditch. Giuseppina Bardelli, aged 89, went mushroom hunting with her 57-year-old son, Sergio, near the Swiss border in northern Italy on August 21st. Unfortunately, the two got separated shortly after their expedition began.
Despite her isolation in the mountainous area, Bardelli, familiar with the terrain, remained calm and unafraid. However, she suddenly felt dizzy and fell into a 25-foot (7.6 meters) deep ravine, fracturing multiple ribs. Realizing she couldn’t free herself, she resorted to prayer and reciting scriptures while waiting for rescue.
When Sergio discovered his mother missing and couldn’t locate her, he promptly alerted the authorities. Search and rescue teams deployed drones, helicopters, and dozens of personnel to conduct an extensive search in the area. Despite four days of efforts yielding no results, the breakthrough came on the morning of the 25th when Bardelli was miraculously found.
Silvio Rizzelli, the head of the rescue team and a firefighter, explained the challenges of locating Bardelli, who had fallen into a deep gorge surrounded by dense ferns, making visibility difficult. Just as the rescue team was considering calling off the search, they heard her cry for help.
Upon being rescued, Bardelli appeared exhausted but conscious. Despite her injuries, she even managed to share jokes when medical personnel fitted her with a neck brace. Her son Roberto Crugnola mentioned that her membership in the Italian Alpine Club, along with her hiking and mountaineering experience, played a crucial role in her survival.
Bardelli recounted her survival tactics, saying, “I slept under a tree at night, using ferns to cover and keep myself warm. When thirsty, I drank rainwater from nearby puddles.” She continued, “During the dark hours, I recited scriptures and prayed silently. I persevered each day, knowing rescuers were searching for me as I heard the drones and helicopters. When I heard them getting closer, I called out loudly, fortunately, they heard me.”
After being rescued, Bardelli was promptly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Medical staff reported that while she had several fractured ribs and a minor lung puncture, there were no serious complications.
Upon learning of Bardelli’s survival, her family was overjoyed. Roberto expressed gratitude to all who aided in the rescue, stating, “My mother is currently in good health. We are immensely thankful to everyone who assisted us.”
In a remarkable tale of resilience and faith, Giuseppina Bardelli’s harrowing ordeal in the mountains ended in a remarkable rescue that captured hearts and inspired hope.