An 89-year-old gran has miraculously survived four nights and five days in the unforgiving Italian Alps keeping herself alive by slurping rainwater, reciting her prayers, and even making an unlikely alliance with a curious fox.
Giuseppina Bardelli got separated from her son during a mushroom-picking expedition when she fell into a gully following a dizzy spell, breaking some ribs on the way down.
Whilst her son Sergio, 57, alarmed the authorities, who deployed drones and helicopters in a large-scale hunt for her, Giuseppina was left to fend for herself near Monterecchio, on the Swiss border.
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Silvio Rizzelli, the hero firefighter at the helm of the 50-person rescue operation, admitted they had a tough time finding her after she vanished last Wednesday.
Looking back on the epic search, he revealed: “She was hidden in a deep gully, full of tall vegetation. She could not see us and we could not see her. The breakthrough came on Sunday morning, as rescuers were considering giving up the search. After finding her, my men reported Ms Bardelli was tired but totally lucid. It was great news and surprising that a person of her age could resist.”
Proving her spirit was unbroken even after her ordeal, Giuseppina humorously retorted when a rescuer attempted to put a neck brace on her: “Now you’re trying to kill me,” reports the Mirror.
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Robbie, another of her sons, detailed how his mother relied on rainwater collected in puddles for hydration and nestled under trees for shelter, utilising foliage as bedding. He added the heartwarming touch: “A fox approached her several times. They sort of became friends. Every evening she recited the rosary. She knew every day could be her last.”
Giuseppina’s family revealed that her time as a member of the Italian Alpine Club came in handy during her ordeal. Roberto expressed their overwhelming relief: “The joy was immense. We burst into tears. It’s a miracle.”
She’s currently recuperating in hospital, with her family sharing details of her survival. Speaking to Corriere della Sera newspaper, Roberto said: “She drank rainwater that she found in puddles. At night she slept under trees, using vegetation to cover herself.”
Despite spending four days alone in the wilderness, Giuseppina wasn’t scared, thanks to her experience with the Italian Alpine Club. The moment she was found was a huge relief for her family.
Roberto described the moment of rescue: “It was an indescribable feeling,” he said. “When I saw the Carabinieri come towards me, I knew that something had happened. When they said that she was alive, the joy was immense. Huge thanks go to the many people who helped us. She’s OK now.”