A holidaymaker sustained a fatal head injury while using a waterfall as a natural slide.
Mother-of-three Silvana Garibaldi hit the back of her head on a rock as she slid down a smooth, sloped chute on Monday evening (26 Jan).
Horrified witnesses, including Silvana’s husband, jumped into the lake at the base of the falls and managed to bring her to the surface.
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They began CPR, but she showed no signs of life by the time emergency responders arrived.
The couple had travelled to the Cascada Frey waterfall in Nahuel Huapi National Park, Argentina, by private boat, accompanied by others.
The accident occurred in the falls’ so-called “slide zone”, named after this type of activity – despite it being strictly prohibited by the park authorities.
The waterfall is only accessible by private boat, complicating rescue efforts.
Silvana’s body was not recovered from the mountainous area until nearly 1am, as reported by Need To Know.
The mum-of-three, believed to be around 50, had been visiting the national park on holiday.
She lived in Pilar in Buenos Aires Province, was widely travelled, and worked as a manager at a consulting firm.
With over 30 years of experience, she specialised in commercial strategy, marketing, and project management, having worked with major brands.
Silvana leaves behind three adult children – Franco, Josefina, and Inés – two of whom live abroad and received the tragic news from afar.
One of her daughters posted a heartfelt tribute online: “See you soon, Mum. You’re the best.”
The park authority said in a statement: “In this area, many visitors slide down the waterfall as if it were a water slide – an activity that is strictly prohibited for safety reasons.
“It’s worth noting that these points are only accessible by boat, which can take several hours depending on weather conditions.
“The administration of the National Park expresses its sorrow over this incident and extends its support to the victim’s family and friends.”
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