Avalanche
The body of a Chinese tourist who had been missing for more than two months has been recovered in the Dolomites of northern Italy, authorities confirmed. The 28-year-old, identified as Peng Huang, was found around 2,000 meters (6,560 feet), just below the Mittagsscharte in the Geislergruppe, between Val Gardena/Gröden and Val di Funes/Villnöß. The discovery was made by ski tourers traveling through the area, which had been a focus of previous search efforts.
Mountain rescue teams from the CNSAS Alpine Rescue in Villnöß, along with a helicopter from Aiut Alpin Dolomites, were dispatched to the scene to recover the body from steep alpine terrain.
Huang had been missing since January 20, when he failed to return from a solo excursion after leaving his accommodation in Ortisei/St. Ulrich. Search teams had concentrated efforts in the surrounding regions, including the Geislergruppe, but were unable to locate him at the time. His family flew in from China to support the search efforts together with a representative of the Chinese community in South Tyrol, but had to leave without ever finding Huang.
The 28-year-old PhD student had been on exchange at the University of Tuscia in Italy. He last made contact with his family on WeChat before setting out on a hike on January 20. The owner of the hotel raised the alarm, when the Chinese tourist did not return in the evening. Huang had been in Italy since August 2025.
Initial findings suggest Huang was caught in an avalanche and buried, with snowpack conditions likely concealing his body until the arrival of spring temperatures led to his discovery this week.
