©Han-Hsing Tu via Unsplash
A 52-year-old Belgian woman died on Thursday afternoon in an accident during a canyoning trip in Claro, in the Swiss canton of Ticino. The victim was part of a group navigating the Censo River Gorge when she fell approximately ten meters. Fellow participants immediately raised the alarm and attempted to resuscitate her.
Police, the Swiss Alpine Rescue Service (SAS), and the Rega air rescue service were dispatched. The injured woman was flown by helicopter to the valley, but she succumbed to her severe injuries there. The authorities called in a care team to provide psychological support to the other participants. The exact cause of the fall is not yet known; the police are conducting an investigation.
Popular vacation activity
Canyoning is an adventurous outdoor sport in which participants descend a river gorge by hiking, swimming, jumping, and rappelling. In the Alps, and certainly in Ticino, the activity is popular among tourists and athletes. Fatal accidents, however, are rare. In 2023, in the same region—also along the Censo River near Claro—a 35-year-old Austrian man died after falling approximately eight meters and landing on the rocks.
According to the Ticino cantonal police, emergency services were alerted shortly after the incident. Witnesses stated that the group was experienced and appeared to be operating under guidance, but the exact circumstances—such as the equipment used, rope anchor points, and the woman’s position at the time of the fall—are part of the ongoing investigation. Local media emphasize that the Censo Gorge contains technical sections where mistakes can quickly lead to serious accidents.
French- and German-language Swiss media report that the woman lived in Belgium and was on an outing with a group. The Belgian authorities have been notified. Consular assistance is being provided to the next of kin.
©Han-Hsing Tu via Unsplash - illustrative image of canyoning.