Nurse, 36, dies just hours after sharing heartbreaking final smiling selfie

Claudia Luberti, 36, posted a smiling selfie from the slopes with a friend in Saturday but tragically died a few hours later during a skiing trip, sparking an outpouring of grief from loved ones

This is the poignant last photo shared by a much-loved nurse before she tragically collapsed and died during a skiing trip. Claudia Luberti, 36, posted the smiling selfie from the slopes with a friend.

She and the pal look happy in their warm skiing gear, with snow-covered mountains behind them. And in the corner of the mirror, an eerie phrase can be seen which reads: “Life can go downhill – the trick is knowing how to master the descent.”

Claudia shared the photo around 4pm on Saturday, January 31. A couple of hours later, while enjoying an apéritif with friends before heading home, she suddenly collapsed.

Friends raised the alarm immediately and paramedics arrived at Campo Felice ski resort in Rocca di Cambio, in Italy’s Abruzzo region, within minutes. But despite the best efforts of medics to revive Claudia, she could not be saved and she was pronounced dead.

The leading hypothesis is that Claudia died of cardiac arrest, possibly triggered in part by the cold. A post-mortem is expected to determine the exact cause. Claudia, who lived in Zagarolo near Rome, had travelled to Campo Felice that morning.

She had worked as a nurse at a Rome hospital since 2022, dedicating herself to caring for others.

Friends paid tribute to her, describing her as a “rare light”. Anna Lisa wrote: “She was a rare light, able to brighten the world with her smile and energy.”

Another friend, Stefano, added: “We’ll miss you so much, Cla – your laughter, your smile, and your endlessly positive spirit. “I’ll miss our Dexter spoilers, which somehow kept us connected even when we were far apart.

“Since the first day of university way back 2008 you have always been there in one way or another .. I love you and I will always love you my friend.”

Another pal said shared a poignant photo from 20 years ago when their friendship began, writing: “Friday night we talked like usual not even hello, but starting with a laugh because every time we had to text or talk, we would laugh before we say something.

“Friday Night Cla… And then the silence… That silence which is louder than any orchestra than every scream than every thing… I have never asked for favours since we met but today…. Today I want to ask this…. I wanna ask you to remember me…

“Remember us in the good times but also the bad ones that in time have led us to find ourselves… Remember them because I know you can as I will remember them forever… Now fly fly my Angel and teach the Angels how to laugh…. Goodbye Cla.”

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