A tourist has plunged to her death in a horror climbing accident.
Antonia Mihăilescu was killed instantly when she and three fellow climbers tumbled around 40 feet down a rock face
A safety rope anchor reportedly gave way during the group climb in the Bucegi Mountains in Romania on Saturday afternoon (11 Jul).
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Antonia, a respected dentist based in Bucharest, was an experienced alpinist who had conquered the Uhuru Peak on Kilimanjaro, reached Everest Base Camp, and tackled tough routes in Peru.
The 36-year-old was roped with three men, aged between 26 and 51, plus a qualified instructor on a descent of the classic Albișoara Brânei route.
At around 3pm, the group was navigating an exposed section when the single anchor point they were all clipped into suddenly failed.
Antonia, positioned last, slipped first and triggered a chain reaction that sent all four crashing onto the rocks below.
She suffered catastrophic injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The three men were badly hurt but survived.
Rescuers launched one of the largest mountain operations in recent Romanian history.
Four helicopters – including a Black Hawk from Bucharest and a SMURD aircraft – were scrambled alongside ground teams.
The difficult terrain and weather made the recovery extremely challenging with Antonia extracted last from the rocks, as reported by Need To Know.
Prahova County official Dan Nicodim confirmed the group was accompanied by an instructor at the time.
Prosecutors have now opened a criminal investigation.
Key lines of inquiry include possible errors in how the climbers set their protection points or a material failure of the equipment.
Alpine experts stress that even experienced climbers must use multiple redundant anchors.
“The rule of thumb is two or even three points of protection so if one fails, others hold,” said a spokesman from the Romanian Alpine Club.
Antonia balanced a demanding dental career with her passion for the mountains.
Colleagues at her Bucharest clinic said: “There are people who leave deep traces… we will never forget you.”
Antonia’s heartbroken mother told reporters: “The anchor on that rope gave way and all four fell.
“Toni – my Antonia – died.
“She was passionate, it was the joy of her life to go up and down.
“She had been to Kilimanjaro, the Rainbow Mountains in Peru… and it happened here at home.”
Friends remember her final posts, one reading: “The mountains call me and I will return.”
Tragically, she never did.
The Bucegi Mountains, around two hours north of Bucharest, are a magnet for hikers and climbers from across Europe but claim dozens of lives every year.
Around 100 people die annually on Romania’s peaks.
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