_ Mountaineer plunges 1,000ft to her death in front of horrified friends after slipping during climb in Italy

A mountaineer plunged 1,000ft to her death after slipping into a rocky ravine in front of her horrified friends.

Monica Reginato, 55, from Castelfranco, slipped and fell 984ft from the Cortina d'Ampezzo, on the Sorapiss mountain in the Dolomites, in northern Italy's Veneto region, on Saturday, April 20.

She had been hiking with three of her friends and had all of the safety equipment including crampons but it was not enough to avert disaster.

Reginato, along with her friends, had reportedly been carrying skis on her back when she tumbled to her death.  

The emergency services were called to the scene at around 3:30pm.

A helicopter and medical personnel arrived at the site but could only confirm that Reginato had died instantly.

She was reportedly an experienced mountaineer who had taught at a mountaineering school for 20 years. 

Reginato had reportedly fallen hundreds of metres into the gully, with rescuers having to use a 20-metre winch to retrieve her body.

Images of Reginato show her smiling and laughing as she hangs off rocky boulders in helmets and safety gear. 

The mountaineering school paid tribute to Reginato on social media following her death, reported Il Dolomiti.

It said: 'Dear Monica, a few hours ago you left for a new and long journey , the most mysterious of all journeys. 

'After many years spent caressing the snow and the rock, you have chosen the environment dearest to you to live another adventure, this time the last one dismaying to say the least.

'After a sleepless night we still can't make sense of what happened, we are lost and confused but as soon as we close our eyes, your serene gaze and your smile appear in the darkness. 

'We already know that it will be extremely hard. Your enthusiasm was an inspiration for all of us, your vitality gave us strength and your optimism lit up every space as soon as you crossed the threshold.

'You have given so much to our group: volunteer instructor, you have held the hands of dozens of students, transmitting to them the passion for the high lands and teaching prudence and preparation as essential requirements for each outing.

'We will miss you, but you will be missed even more by your family to whom we extend our thoughts of condolence and closeness - Dear Monica: have a safe trip'.

Local media said that her friends were treated for shock.

According to Treviso Today, Reginato's funeral is set to take place on Wednesday at 3.30pm, in the Cathedral of Castelfranco Veneto.

Before she died on Saturday, in the past month alone, Reginato had climbed in Carnia and Alpago on the Coglians and Guslon mountains.

At the end of the funeral ceremony, on Wednesday afternoon, her body will be buried in the Castelfranco Veneto cemetery. 

It comes after an experienced climber, 42, died after falling into Washington state's Mount St Helens' 1,200ft crater earlier this month.

The body of Roscoe 'Rocky' Shorey was discovered after he plummeted into the hole when a shelf of snow he was standing on apparently broke. 

A fitness influencer also died after falling into a ravine while filming a video of him and his pals exploring an abandoned ghost town in Italy.

The group were exploring an ancient mountain village that had been abandoned in the 1970s following a severe flood.

As the trio stood on a balcony with no railings, the tattooed influencer suddenly slipped and fell into a deep and rocky ravine.

Fire brigade teams from the Melito Porto Salvo detachment and the SAF unit dashed to the scene but it was too late. 

(Fluierul)