Presumably, the snow had lost the tourists’ path to and from the Grotta del Gelo, Italian for Ice Cave. After the group decided to turn around, they got lost. The group then found shelter in a mountain cabin. There they warmed up by a fire and called the emergency number 112.
After the emergency call at 6.15 pm, it took until about 9.30 pm before firefighters arrived at the foursome, which also included an American, Tunisian and Pole. A total of three fire teams went in search of the tourists, who themselves had no idea where they were. Partly on foot, partly with all-terrain vehicles, they were eventually taken to a nearby parking lot. There they were handed over to emergency medical services, but the four tourists were doing well, according to the Maletto fire department.