how did the italian skier die

Italian alpine skier Matteo Franzoso died after suffering a severe head injury in a high‑speed training crash in Chile in September 2025.

What happened in the accident?

• Franzoso was training on the La Parva course near Santiago, Chile, during a pre‑season session.

• He reportedly misjudged a small jump, lost control, and was thrown forward off the racing line.

• He went through or over two rows of safety nets and collided with a fence located about six to seven meters outside the course.

This sequence turned what might have been a routine fall into a catastrophic impact, despite the presence of safety barriers.

Cause of death

• The crash caused major head trauma / cranial trauma, leading to brain swelling (cerebral edema).

• He was airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in Santiago and placed in an induced coma in intensive care.

• Despite treatment, he died from complications related to the head injury and resulting brain swelling.

In simple terms: he died from critical brain injuries caused by the impact with the fence after the crash.

Context and reaction

• Franzoso was 25 years old and a member of Italy’s national team, with World Cup starts and a national title to his name.

• Italian winter sports officials described his death as a “tragedy” for his family and for the sport, and called for stronger safety measures in training.

• His death came less than a year after 19‑year‑old Italian skier Matilde Lorenzi also died from injuries suffered in a training crash in Italy, which deepened the sense of shock in the skiing community.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.