Woman who died after fall in Alps named locally as Ripon teacher
56-year-old Louise Atkinson is believed to have fallen to her death whilst hiking in Italy
Last updated 28th Jul 2022
A British woman who fell to her death while hiking in the Alps it Italy has been named locally as Louise Atkinson from Ripon.
The 56-year-old teacher was reportedly travelling with her husband when she slipped and plunged around 100ft.
Local reports suggest the woman was on the popular hiking destination of Catinaccio when she fell on to the rocks below, at around 2pm on July 24.
It's understood Mrs. Atkinson worked Roecliffe Church of England school near Boroughbridge and St. Wilfrid's Catholic School in Ripon.
Tributes paid to "inspirational teacher" online
Dozens of tributes have been left below a Facebook post to the teacher, from former pupils and colleagues.
One described Mrs. Atkinson as "a lovely lady and an inspirational teacher."
Another, left by someone claiming to be a former colleague called her "an amazing friend and an incredible teacher."
"I had the privilege to work with Louise at Roecliffe, and yesterday was absolutely devastated to hear about such a terrible tragedy. All my prayers are with John and her boys, she was an amazing lady, so kind and so loved and respected by so many."
Latest tragedy involving Britons in the Dolomites
It came around a week after a 54-year-old hiker fell to his death nearby.
Earlier this month, an avalanche on the Dolomites killed nearly a dozen people when a huge chunk of ice detached from a melting glacier and sent a torrent of ice, rock and debris on to hikers below.
The latest Dolomites death is the second confirmed tragedy involving Britons in Italy in the last week.
It follows the death of businessman Aran Chada, a 51-year-old sales director from Leicestershire, who is thought to have had a seizure when he leapt from a boat into Lake Garda to save his young son from drowning.
We've reached out to the UK Foreign Office for a comment.