Hikers hear a scream and rock slide then realize 26-year-old friend is missing in Italy

Hikers on a mountain in Italy heard a scream and a rock slide then realized their 26-year-old friend was missing, according to news reports.

Mariacristina Masocco of Feltre went hiking with three friends on Sunday, Nov. 20, Il Dolomiti, an Italian newspaper, reported. The group decided to summit Punta del Comedon, a 7,600-foot-tall Alpine mountain in northwestern Italy.

The group had reached the summit and began descending along the Passo del Comedon around 4 p.m., Il Messaggero reported. Three of the friends lingered while Masocco hiked ahead.

The group heard a scream and rocks sliding, Il Gazzettino reported. The friends hiked ahead but couldn’t find Masocco. They began calling for her, and when she didn’t answer, they called for an emergency rescue.

A rescue helicopter searched the mountainside and found Masocco’s body on a rocky ledge about 6,500 feet above sea level, Il Messaggero reported. Because of the weather conditions, rescuers could not reach Masocco.

Rescuers took the three friends down the mountain and returned for Masocco’s body the next day, Il Dolomiti reported.

Masocco likely slipped on ice, fell about 164 feet and died, Il Gazzettino reported.

Masocco’s community in Feltre mourned her death. The city mayor, Viviana Fusaro, described her death as tragic, causing pain and sadness for the entire community, according to a Facebook post from the Comune di Feltre.

The Palio di Feltre organization, of which Masocco was a member, remembered the young woman’s time as a flag bearer in the traditional horse racing event, according to a Facebook post. The organization described Masocco as having a great spirit of service.

Feltre is about 50 miles northwest of Venice.

Google Translate was used to translate stories from Il Messaggero, Il Dolomiti and Il Gazzettino. Facebook Translate was used to translate posts from Comune di Feltre and Palio di Feltre.

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