Tourist, 36 plunges 40 feet to her death when safety rope anchor gives way on Romania mountain climbing trip

By SABRINA PENTY, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 09:27, 18 July 2026 | Updated: 09:27, 18 July 2026 A tourist has died in Romania after plunging 40ft when her safety rope anchor gave way while rock climbing.  Antonia Mihailescu, 36, was scaling the Bucegi Mountains on July 11 with three fellow climbers when the single anchor point they were all clipped into suddenly broke.  Antonia, positioned last, slipped first and triggered a chain reaction that sent all four crashing onto the rocks below.  She suffered catastrophic injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The three men, aged between 26 and 51, were badly hurt but survived. Rescuers launched one of the largest mountain operations in recent Romanian history. Prahova County official Dan Nicodim confirmed the group was accompanied by an instructor at the time. Prosecutors have now opened a criminal investigation. Key lines of inquiry include possible errors in how the climbers set their protection points or a material failure of the equipment. Antonia Mihailescu, 36, died in climbing accident in Romania  The 36-year-old  was scaling the Bucegi Mountains on July 11 with three fellow climbers when the single anchor point they were all clipped into suddenly broke Antonia was described as an experienced climber (pictured here on a climbing expedition in the Dolomites) Alpine experts stress that even experienced climbers must use multiple redundant anchors. 'The rule of thumb is two or even three points of protection, so if one fails, others hold,' said a spokesman from the Romanian Alpine Club.  Antonia, a respected dentist based in Bucharest, was an experienced alpinist who had conquered the Uhuru Peak on Kilimanjaro, reached Everest Base Camp, and tackled tough routes in Peru. She balanced a demanding dental career with her passion for the mountains. Colleagues at her Bucharest clinic said: 'There are people who leave deep traces. We will never forget you.' Antonia's heartbroken mother told reporters: 'She was passionate, it was the joy of her life to go up and down. 'She had been to Kilimanjaro, the Rainbow Mountains in Peru, and it happened here at home. The Bucegi Mountains, around two hours north of Bucharest, are a magnet for hikers and climbers from across Europe but claim dozens of lives every year. Around 100 people die annually on Romania's peaks.