Guard Dies at Winter Olympic Construction Site in Subzero Cold

A security guard working at a construction site near a 2026 Winter Olympics venue in Cortina d’Ampezzo has died after collapsing during an overnight shift in extreme cold conditions, Italian authorities confirmed. The incident occurred near the ice arena being prepared for the Milan-Cortina Games, with nighttime temperatures dropping to minus 12 degrees Celsius.

Italian media reported that the 55-year-old guard was on duty late Thursday night when the incident happened. Milan-Cortina 2026 organizers later said initial findings suggest the man died of a heart attack, though officials have stressed that investigations are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances.

Italy’s Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini has called for a full inquiry into the death, emphasizing the importance of worker safety at Olympic construction sites. Organizers said all required documentation and safety procedures were in place and that emergency services classified the death as resulting from natural causes.

The construction site where the guard was working is not overseen by Simico, the government agency responsible for Olympic infrastructure. Nevertheless, both Olympic organizers and local officials expressed condolences to the worker’s family and said they are awaiting final investigative results.

The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are scheduled to take place from February 6 to February 22, with preparations continuing across northern Italy amid heightened scrutiny over safety and working conditions.