Italian Geologist Dies Falling Into Mendenhall Glacier Ice Hole, Alaska

Italian geologist Riccardo Pozzobon tragically died after falling into a narrow, water-filled ice hole on Alaska's Mendenhall Glacier, where rescue attempts were halted due to dangerous conditions. Pozzobon, 41, was on a research mission studying planetary geology and was accompanied by two others when the incident occurred. Despite immediate reports and deployment of a specialized rescue team by Juneau Mountain Rescue, the rushing water inside the two-foot-wide vertical ice opening made recovery impossible. Pozzobon's death has deeply affected the scientific community in Italy, with tributes highlighting his passion for geology and kind personality. This incident follows the recent death of an Arizona hiker, Thomas Casey, who was found near the glacier after a hiking accident, underscoring the area's risks. Authorities are working to notify Pozzobon's family, and a donation fund is being established to support them.