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Tragic Death of Mountain Biker and Extreme Sports Influencer
A mountain biker and extreme sports influencer tragically lost his life after falling over 600 feet from the Dolomites just hours after sharing a video of his achievement on social media. The body of Andreas Tonelli, 48, was discovered early Wednesday in a ravine in the Vallunga area of Val Gardena, part of the Dolomites mountain range in Italy’s South Tyrol province.
The discovery came after a swift rescue operation that started at 9pm local time on Tuesday night when Tonelli’s friends raised the alarm, concerned that he had not returned from his trip. The incident marked the end of a harrowing search that began with the realization that something had gone terribly wrong.
Just two hours before the rescue was initiated, Tonelli had posted a video to his 127,000 followers on social media. In the clip, he was seen standing atop the summit of Piz Duleda, a peak that reaches 9,543 feet (2,909 meters). The video captured Tonelli grinning widely while carrying his bike on his shoulders as he passed a small cross marking the mountain’s summit.
It is believed that Tonelli suffered an accident or lost control of his bike while descending the mountain, leading to a fall of approximately 650 feet down the side of the peak. This tragic event left him with fatal injuries.
Within minutes of the alarm being raised, a helicopter was dispatched to assist in the search. The team located Tonelli at the bottom of the ravine around 1am on Wednesday morning. However, due to the challenging terrain, rescuers were unable to reach him during the night.
A search and rescue party finally reached Tonelli shortly after dawn on Wednesday morning but found that he had already succumbed to his injuries.
Tonelli was originally from Italy’s South Tyrol region and had been familiar with the Dolomites since childhood. However, he transitioned into extreme sports later in life. He reportedly abandoned a traditional office job to pursue a career in cycling, working as a guide in the Dolomites while building a significant following on social media through videos showcasing his thrilling adventures.
His contributions to the mountain biking community were notable, with several impressive achievements under his belt. According to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, Tonelli successfully completed a ride to the summit of Chile’s Nevado Ojos de Salado volcano, which stands at 22,614 feet (6,893 meters).
In addition to mountain biking, Tonelli was also known for his passion for snowboarding. He often summited mountains using a splitboard, a type of snowboard that can be disassembled into skis for ascents and flat ground travel, then reassembled for descents.
As part of a four-day challenge called ‘Dolomites Enduro Traverse’ in collaboration with Norwegian outdoorwear brand Norrøna, Tonelli was biking and hiking through the Dolomites. His journey was filled with excitement and adventure, but it ultimately ended in tragedy.
