At a Glance
- A 55-year-old guard died during a minus-12°C night shift near the 2026 Cortina ice arena
- Authorities say heart attack, not cold, caused the death
- Italy’s infrastructure minister demands a full probe
- Why it matters: The fatality raises safety questions as Olympic construction races toward the February 2026 deadline
A security guard working overnight near the future ice arena for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics died Thursday as temperatures plunged to minus 12 degrees Celsius, officials confirmed Saturday.
What Happened
The 55-year-old man was on duty at a construction site adjacent to Cortina’s ice arena when he collapsed. Italian media first reported the death, and organizers later stated that emergency responders concluded the cause was a heart attack.
Night-shift records show the temperature at 10.4°F (minus 12°C) during his shift.
Official Response
Italy’s Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini called for “a full investigation into the circumstances” of the death.
Andrea Varnier, CEO of Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, addressed reporters during a test event at the new hockey arena in Milan:
> “The information we have is that it was a death by natural cause, it was a heart attack. And we are investigating.”
Varnier added that all site documentation “was in order” and that the emergency services’ initial finding points to natural causes “while he was on site.”
Site Oversight
The construction site is not managed by Simico, the government company handling Olympic infrastructure. Simico issued a statement expressing condolences but noted it had no supervisory role at that location.
Local Reaction
Cortina city officials said they are “deeply saddened and troubled by the death.” The resort town is scheduled to host:
- Curling
- Sliding sports
- Women’s Alpine skiing
Olympic Timeline
The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics are set for February 6-22, 2026. Construction crews across multiple Alpine sites are working through winter conditions to finish venues.
Key Takeaways
- A 55-year-old guard suffered a fatal heart attack during an overnight shift near Cortina’s future Olympic ice arena.
- Temperatures dropped to minus 12°C, but authorities attribute death to natural causes, not hypothermia.
- Italy’s infrastructure minister has ordered an investigation, though the site falls outside direct Olympic infrastructure oversight.
- The incident highlights safety pressures as organizers push to complete venues before the February 2026 Games.
Megan L. Whitfield reported from Rome; News Of Fort Worth carried the story.
