A solo hike to the peaks of the Engadine Valley turned into a nightmare for Luciano Capasso, a 25-year-old originally from Qualiano who works at a hotel in St. Moritz. He has been missing since last Wednesday, caught in a violent snowstorm while at an altitude of 2.700 meters.
The severe weather conditions of recent days have forced Swiss rescue operations to dramatically suspend operations, making approach by land or helicopter impossible.
The appeal and the bounty: "Look for him with drones."
The family is not giving in to the pessimism of local authorities, who had initially urged the mother, Raffaella Grande, to "prepare for the worst." In a post filled with grief and hope, she offered a €50.000 reward to anyone who could locate her son, addressing mountain guides, hikers, and drone pilots directly.
“As a mother, I ask you with all my heart to help me,” the woman wrote, providing her last known GPS position: 46.43110° North, 9.92496° East.
The mystery of the four days of silence
According to the Qualiano Carabinieri and the Swiss police, Luciano had been missing for four days. His hotel roommate confirmed his prolonged absence, while his last contact with his family was a WhatsApp message sent to his brother three days ago.
Through their lawyer Sergio Pisani, the family has asked for transparency and a direct link with the authorities to monitor every stage of the investigation.
Today the possible turning point
Today's weather forecast finally seems to be offering a break. The Italian Consul General in Zurich, Mario Baldi, confirmed that operations will resume at full speed: "There's a reasonable chance we'll be able to locate it using GPS signals, but the area is extremely inaccessible and covered in snow."
A consulate official will be present on site to assist with the operations and support Luciano's brother, who has already arrived in Switzerland. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its Unit for the Protection of Italians Abroad, remains in constant contact with the family to monitor what is now a race against time.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (3)
Yes, conditions are dire, and it's impossible to predict what will happen. It's important to maintain hope, but also to be realistic about the current state of the search.
I agree with you; the situation is truly difficult, and the mother's plea is touching. Let's hope someone can help them find Luciano before it's too late.
It's very sad to hear about Luciano and his disappearance. I hope the search can lead to a positive outcome, but the situation is very complicated and the weather conditions are not helping at all. The mother has done a noble thing.