At a Glance
- A 55-year-old guard suffered a fatal heart attack while working overnight near Cortina’s ice arena
- Temperatures dropped to minus 12 degrees Celsius during the shift
- The site is part of 2026 Winter Olympics preparations, though not overseen by the main infrastructure company
- Why it matters: The death raises questions about worker safety protocols during extreme weather conditions for Olympic construction projects
A construction site guard working near a 2026 Winter Olympics venue in Cortina d’Ampezzo died during an overnight shift as temperatures plunged to minus 12 degrees Celsius (10.4 degrees Fahrenheit), authorities confirmed Saturday.
The 55-year-old worker was on duty Thursday night at a site near Cortina’s ice arena when he suffered a heart attack, according to Milan Cortina organizers. Italian media first reported the death, which occurred during frigid conditions that saw temperatures drop well below freezing.
Investigation Underway
Italy’s Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini called for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the worker’s death. The exact cause remains under review, though initial reports point to natural causes.
“The information we have is that it was a death by natural cause, it was a heart attack. And we are investigating,” said Andrea Varnier, CEO of the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026. He spoke to reporters during a test event at the new hockey arena in Milan.
Varnier emphasized that all documentation appeared to be in order. “All the documentation that we have was in order. And we are waiting for the investigation to understand what the specific cause was. At the moment, the information we have from the emergency services is it was a death caused by natural causes … while he was on site,” he stated.
Olympic Preparations Continue
The incident occurred at a construction site near facilities being prepared for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, scheduled for February 6-22, 2026. Cortina will host curling, sliding, and women’s Alpine skiing events during the games.
The construction site where the death occurred is not overseen by Simico, the governmental company responsible for Olympic infrastructure. Simico issued a statement expressing condolences but clarified it had no oversight of the specific site where the incident occurred.
Local officials expressed their distress over the incident. Cortina city officials said they were “deeply saddened and troubled by the death” in their statement released Saturday.
Safety Protocols Questioned
The death occurred during an overnight shift when temperatures reached dangerous lows. The worker was stationed at a guard post near the ice arena construction area, which is part of the broader Olympic venue preparations sweeping through the mountain resort town.
While organizers maintain that all safety documentation was properly filed, the incident highlights the challenges of construction work during extreme weather conditions. The timing during overnight hours and sub-zero temperatures may factor into the ongoing investigation.
The 2026 Winter Olympics organizing committee continues preparing venues across Milan and Cortina, with construction projects at various stages of completion. The ice arena where this incident occurred represents one of several key venues being built or renovated for the games.
Key Takeaways
- A 55-year-old guard died of a heart attack during an overnight shift near Cortina’s ice arena
- Temperatures dropped to minus 12 degrees Celsius during the fatal shift
- The site is part of 2026 Winter Olympics infrastructure, though not managed by the main Olympic construction company
- Italian authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death
- The incident raises concerns about worker safety during extreme weather conditions for Olympic preparations
