An American visitor died after falling almost 1,000 feet in the Italian Alps while reportedly leaving a marked trail to capture photographs of the dramatic mountain scenery.
Michaelle Alejandra Rubio Leiva, 36, was hiking through the Dolomites with relatives last Saturday when she lost her footing near Forcella Pordoi, a rugged mountain pass overlooking the resort town of Canazei.
The Florida-based communications professional is believed to have stepped away from the designated route in search of a panoramic viewpoint before falling about 980 feet down an exposed mountainside, Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported.
Her sister alerted authorities, setting off a rescue operation in the remote and difficult alpine landscape.
The emergency service said its Alta Val di Fassa team and an air ambulance were sent to the area after the 112 emergency control centre received the call.
A mountain rescuer who was already close to the site located the scene and provided the helicopter crew with its exact coordinates.
Medical responders were lowered onto the mountainside at around 12.30pm. Despite their efforts, Leiva was pronounced dead at the scene.
The family had been trekking at an elevation of roughly 9,000 feet and was heading towards a cable car station for a trip to the summit of Sass Pordoi, known for its sweeping views of the surrounding peaks, according to Italian outlet il Dolomiti.
Michelle Alejandra Rubio Leiva was visiting the Italian Dolomites with relatives when the fatal accident occurred. The 36-year-old American reportedly left the marked trail in pursuit of a panoramic viewpoint near Forcella Pordoi, above Canazei in northern Italy
The 36-year-old American is believed to have left the established route to reach a scenic viewpoint before falling approximately 980 feet down an exposed mountainside near Forcella Pordoi, above Canazei in northern Italy
Her sister raised the alarm, prompting an emergency response in the isolated mountain region. Leiva was pronounced dead at the scene shortly before 12.30pm despite the rescue team’s efforts
An outing across one of Europe’s most breathtaking natural regions had ended in tragedy.
Leiva’s relatives were later flown to nearby Canazei, while rescuers carried out the challenging task of retrieving her body from the steep mountainside.
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Forcella Pordoi is part of the Sella mountain group, a dramatic landscape of towering limestone walls, steep drops and rocky passes in the UNESCO-listed Dolomites.
The area is accessible by cable car, but exploring it on foot can be hazardous. Steep slopes and unstable gravel make footing difficult, especially on exposed stretches where a single slip can have deadly consequences, according to reports from Italy.
The Dolomites attract travellers from across the globe with their jagged peaks, dramatic valleys and expansive alpine views. Beyond the marked trails, however, the rugged terrain can quickly become dangerous.
Leiva was born in Guatemala, graduated from Brigham Young University and built a career in communications and consulting.
According to Corriere della Sera, she most recently worked for a Miami-based firm and had also taken part in several volunteer initiatives.
She moved to Rome in 2025 to work as a digital nomad in consulting. It was unclear whether she was still living in the Italian capital at the time of the accident.
Leiva developed a career in communications and consulting after graduating from Brigham Young University. Born in Guatemala, she later moved to the United States and worked for a Miami firm, while also contributing to several volunteer projects
The family had been walking through the mountains at an altitude of around 9,000ft and was heading towards a cable car station to travel to the summit of Sass Pordoi, renowned for its spectacular views across the surrounding peaks, according to Italian outlet il Dolomiti
Her death has cast a tragic shadow over a visit to one of Italy’s most celebrated natural landmarks.
The Dolomites are renowned for their extraordinary beauty, attracting hikers, climbers and sightseers eager to experience their dramatic mountain scenery.
But beyond the established trails, steep drops and unstable ground can turn an otherwise routine outing into a life-threatening ordeal.
For Leiva’s family, the excursion ended in devastating circumstances, as emergency crews worked to recover her corpse from the unforgiving terrain.
Our News Outlet has reached out for comment to Levia’s family.
