Mushroom picking, a popular autumn activity, has claimed four lives in Italy over a single weekend. The deaths were not due to poisonous mushrooms but rather accidents in challenging terrains.
Tragic accidents in the Abruzzi and Emilia-Romagna
According to the Italian news agency Ansa and the newspaper “Corriere di Bologna”, the weekend began with devastating news from the Abruzzi region. On Sunday morning, September 15, an 82-year-old man fell down a 20-meter deep slope and died from his injuries. Later that day, another mushroom picker, aged 85, was reported dead after falling into a ravine in the same area. Eyewitnesses immediately alerted rescue services, but all help came too late.
In Emilia-Romagna, a 69-year-old woman who had apparently gotten lost while mushroom picking on Friday was found dead on Saturday. She had gone mushroom hunting with others but became separated from the group. Ansa reported that specialized mountain rescue units searched for the woman using drones, but after hours of searching, only her body was found the next morning. A fatal fall is suspected in this case as well.
Earlier incidents and a narrow escape
On Friday, the “Corriere di Bologna” reported that the body of an 82-year-old man was discovered in the Bologna Apennines with the help of a dog unit. The body was found at the foot of a steep slope, again suggesting a tragic misstep.
Not all mushroom picking expeditions ended in tragedy. A 52-year-old man had a fortunate escape after falling in the mountain forests of Molise, a region north of Campania. He became stranded on a narrow rocky ledge but was safely returned to the hiking trail during a nighttime rescue operation.
Dangers of the seemingly harmless hobby
Ansa quoted a rescuer saying, “The sad toll of this weekend shows once again how dangerous this seemingly harmless hobby can be: The moisture of the undergrowth harbors many pitfalls.” The recent weather conditions of light drizzle and warm temperatures have created ideal conditions for mushroom growth across many parts of Europe, attracting enthusiasts to the forests early in the morning.
These incidents serve as a stark reminder that while mushroom picking can be a rewarding autumn activity, it also comes with significant risks. Pickers must exercise extreme caution, not only in identifying edible mushrooms but also in navigating potentially treacherous terrain.
