A security guard working an overnight shift at a construction site near a venue for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo has died, Italian authorities confirmed on Saturday. The 55-year-old man was on duty near Cortina’s ice arena when the incident occurred late Thursday night, as temperatures dropped to minus 12 degrees Celsius.

Italy’s Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini has called for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death. According to Milan Cortina 2026 organizers, initial information from emergency services indicates the guard suffered a heart attack while at work.

Andrea Varnier, chief executive of the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, said all required documentation related to the site was in order and stressed that authorities are awaiting the outcome of official investigations to confirm the exact cause. The construction site was not managed by Simico, the state company overseeing Olympic infrastructure.

Local officials in Cortina expressed deep sorrow over the incident. The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are scheduled to take place from Feb 6 to 22, 2026.