A tragic incident occurred as a woman, Ghizlane Moutahir, 41, lost her life when she reportedly slipped from her safety harness and plummeted 60ft during a zipline ride spanning Italy’s Bitto Valley. The unfortunate incident took place on Sunday afternoon at Fly Emotion park in Alpi Orobie, near Lake Como. Witnesses recounted that as Moutahir approached the conclusion of the exhilarating mile-long ride, she appeared to ‘struggle’ before slipping out of her harness.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene, but despite their efforts, they were unable to save her, and she was declared deceased. Authorities, including the police and prosecutors, have initiated an investigation into the tragic incident.
Moutahir’s two nieces, who had recently completed their own zipline experience, witnessed their aunt’s turn on the 60mph ride and were recording the moment when the accident occurred. Investigators are analyzing the footage captured by the girls.
Ghizlane Moutahir, 41, (pictured) died Sunday afternoon after she fell to the ground at the Fly Emotion park in Alpi Orobie at Bema, close to Lake Como, in Italy
Preliminary findings from the investigation indicate that Moutahir halted just before reaching the zipline’s endpoint, then appeared to encounter difficulties and ultimately slipped, resulting in the tragic incident. In the accompanying image, first responders can be seen at the park on Sunday afternoon.
The tragic incident occurred on Sunday amidst a bustling crowd at Fly Emotion park, established in 2011 and renowned as a prime tourist destination in the region.
The zipline offers a thrilling experience, suspending adventurers over the picturesque valley between Albaredo and San Marco, and Bema, using harnesses attached to steel cables.
Moutahir was traversing the initial stretch of the route, between Albaredo and Bema, and had nearly reached the arrival point when the accident transpired, as per reports from local media.
Eyewitnesses recounted that she remained suspended vertically for several moments before plummeting.
According to a police spokesperson, initial investigations indicated that Moutahir had momentarily halted just before reaching the end of the zipline, began to struggle, and subsequently slipped from her harness. “This led to her losing balance and falling from the harness approximately 20 meters into the forest below, resulting in instantaneous fatality,” he elaborated.
He also noted, “It’s plausible that she experienced a panic attack or some other medical issue, contributing to her struggle, but we await the results of the post-mortem examination.”
The zipline offers a thrilling experience, dangling adventurers above the scenic Bitto Valley between Albaredo and San Marco (pictured), and Bema, utilizing a harness suspended from a steel cable.
Authorities have initiated safety equipment inspections and, as a precautionary measure, temporarily closed the park during the investigation.
“The video footage captured by her nieces is also under scrutiny, and the local prosecutor has launched an investigation,” the spokesperson remarked.
Moutahir, originally from Morocco but residing nearby in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, was married with no children. She had taken advantage of the warm Sunday weather to enjoy a day out with her extended family.
Her husband of nine years, Michele, who had stayed home due to a toothache, hurried to the park after the tragic incident. Speaking to La Repubblica, he expressed regret, saying, “I should have been there with her too. I thought she had just injured herself, but now she’s no longer here.”
Matteo Sanguineti, a director of Fly Emotion, stated, “Our heartfelt condolences go out to the lady and her family. We are still awaiting clarity on the incident, and I am deeply shocked and perplexed.”
Moutahir, depicted in the image, hailed from Moroccan roots but resided in the nearby Sant’Angelo Lodigiano. She was married but did not have any children.
“We are collaborating with the authorities to ascertain the details of the incident. The zipline has been operational for 13 years, serving over 200,000 individuals without any prior incidents. I am deeply shocked and bewildered.”
Spanning a valley, the zipline begins at Albaredo, situated at an elevation of 3000ft, and concludes at Bema, positioned at 2400ft.
A notice on the Fly Emotion website states: “All activities are temporarily suspended. We apologize for any inconvenience.”
The attraction receives stellar reviews on Trip Advisor, with one reviewer from Newcastle-upon-Tyne stating: “Absolutely brilliant. Great fun. If you are in the area, you have to try this! Don’t think about it – just fly.”
