A 14-year-old Italian national died on Sunday while hiking in Val Blenio (TI). Two other 14-year-old boys were also seriously injured, the Ticino cantonal police announced on Sunday afternoon.
The accident occurred shortly before noon in the area of the Scaletta hut. A teenager residing in the province of Varese (I), who was hiking with a group, fell a hundred meters for a still unknown reason.
He dragged in his fall an Italian comrade from the same group. The latter ended up in a stream below. A young 14-year-old Swiss, also living in Mendrisiotto (TI) but who was not part of the Italian hikers, tried to help the two young people, but he too fell.
The emergency services immediately deployed could only note the death of the first teenager. The other two were airlifted to hospital. Their vital prognosis is engaged because of the serious injuries they have suffered. Psychological support has been put in place.
Not particularly difficult
The two young Italians were part of a group of around twenty people, a Ticino police spokesman told the Keystone ATS agency. They were accompanied by several adults.
The walkers were on their way between Pian Geirett and the Scaletta hut located at 2200 meters above sea level. The trail isn’t particularly difficult, according to police, but it is exposed for long stretches.