89-Year-Old Woman Survives 4 Nights in Italian Wilderness, Drinking from Puddles and Using Vegetation as Cover

Mar. 15, 2025

Italian authorities announced that an 89-year-old woman was found alive after spending four days in the wilderness alone on Aug. 25, 2024.Photo:Vigili del Fuoco/X

Vigili del Fuoco/X

Bardelli’s son, Sergio, alerted authorities about his missing mother, but first responders couldn’t find her, according toThe Times. Her other son, Roberto, later said that his mother occasionally heard the rescuers calling for her but could not get their attention.

However, Bardelli was familiar with the surroundings based on her previous knowledge of the terrain, reportedLa Vanguardia.

“My mother is like that — you can’t hold her back,” Roberto told the Italian newspaperCorriere della Sera, perThe Times. “She spent many years of her life, particularly when she was young, in the mountains and she is built for it.

During her ordeal, Bardelli drank from puddles left over from the rain and assembled a bed of ferns to cover her, Roberto told the outlet.

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He also toldCorriere della Serathat a fox approached his mother several times. “They had become almost friends,” Roberto said. “My mom said to her: ‘Don’t do anything to me.’ "

Finally on Aug. 25, , Bardelli was found alive, Vigili del Fuoco announced in a social media post.

“I’ve made a mess,” Bardelli reportedly said after being reunited with her family, perLa Vanguardia. She was taken to the hospital with broken ribs and a slightly punctured lung but otherwise in good condition, according to medical professionals.

“The greatest thanks go to the many, even inhabitants of the community, who were close to us and helped us,” Roberto toldCorriere della Sera.

PEOPLE contacted Vigili del Fuoco on Thursday, Aug. 29, for additional information.

source: people.com