An Audi executive and mountain climbing enthusiast died after falling while vacationing in the mountains of northern Italy on Saturday, according to reports.
Fabrizio Longo, a director of Audi Italy since 2013, fell more than 600 feet near the summit of Mount Cima Paia in Il Messaggero. ReportedThe mountain sits at about 10,000 feet above sea level, in the Adamello Presanella Alps, between the peaks of Corno di Lago Scuro in the province of Trento and Punta Pisgana in the province of Brescia.
Longo was reportedly climbing alone on a via ferrata (iron road) nearing the summit of Cima Paia when he lost grip on the protected route and fell at about 1:15 p.m., the outlet reported separately. Reported.
Climbers reportedly arrived at the scene and called emergency services. Technicians and a medical team were dispatched by helicopter from a rescue station in the town of Pinzolo to the scene, where a doctor pronounced Longo dead, the media reported. Another helicopter from the Guardia di Finanza then reportedly winched his body to the neighboring town of Carisolo. Saturday was reportedly scheduled to be the last day of his vacation. (Related article: Skier dies after falling 600ft from iceberg as weather conditions wreak havoc in tourist destination)
BREAKING: Audi CEO Fabrizio Longo dies after falling from 10,000 feet mountain in Italyhttps://t.co/QeO3f6MBEe pic.twitter.com/K6z2wMFLDH
— Mirror Breaking News (@MirrorBreaking_) September 2, 2024
According to the media, Longo will oversee the upcoming showing of Audi's highly anticipated new models as well as the automaker's return to the Paris Motor Show.
Born in the northern Italian city of Rimini, Longo studied political science and began his automotive career at Fiat in 1987, before moving to Piaggio, Toyota, BMW and Hyundai before finally becoming director of Volkswagen's Audi Italy.
Longo and Audi reportedly shared a passion for motorsport, with several of Audi's vehicles having won various races, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France and the Dakar Rally in Senegal.
Longo was reportedly close friends with Italian professional climbers Reinhold Messner and Herve Balmas, and was involved in environmentally sustainable activities in the Alpine community, particularly in the northern Italian ski resorts of Cortina d'Ampezzo and Madonna di Campiglio, according to Il Messaggero.
“Today, everyone talks about sustainability,” Longo was quoted as saying, “but I prefer the word 'awareness.' Behind awareness is a much broader set of values that presuppose a deep understanding of the situation. And it means choices by companies that lead to practical solutions.”
