Miami woman dies after 1,000-foot fall while hiking in Italian Dolomites

Michelle Alejandra Rubio-Leiva, a 36-year-old woman from Miami, died after falling more than 1,000 feet while hiking in the Italian Dolomite mountains, according to police in Trentino, Italy, as reported by abc7news.com and abc11.com.

Rubio-Leiva was hiking with family on the Forcella Pordoi trail, a high-altitude area in the Sella group of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for steep inclines and loose gravel, according to emergency workers and the Italian Alpine Rescue unit.

The accident occurred when Rubio-Leiva and her sister left the trail to reach a steep, exposed cliff to take a picture. Rubio-Leiva slipped and fell into the canyon below, emergency responders told local media.

Her sister alerted emergency services, which sent a specialized team and a rescue helicopter to recover Rubio-Leiva’s body. The recovery operation took several hours, and family members were airlifted to Canazei during the process.

The Italian Alpine Rescue unit noted that the hiking area is extremely dangerous and that more than 80 people have died in the Dolomites so far in 2026, highlighting the risks associated with this popular hiking destination.