What began as a relaxing trip into the untouched nature of western Georgia quickly turned into a painful and prolonged ordeal for Russian tourist Olesya Fedoseenko.
Together with a friend, she set out toward a lesser-known waterfall in the upper reaches of the Abasha River, in the Imereti region. The area is often described as one of the most beautiful in the country—but also one of the most unpredictable. The Abasha River canyons, including the Gachedili Canyon Natural Monument, are known for steep cliffs, slippery paths, and hard-to-reach terrain where visitors can easily stray from marked routes.
That is exactly what happened to Olesya.
Instead of staying on the established trail, the two decided to take a shortcut through grass and low vegetation. According to her, the terrain looked completely harmless—until one step changed everything.
A loud metallic snap echoed through the area.
“At first, I didn’t even understand what had happened. I just froze—and then I felt the pain,” she later recalled.
When she looked down, she saw her leg caught in an old metal trap designed for large animals. The jaws had snapped shut around her ankle with full force, effectively pinning her to the ground.
What followed were hours she describes as the longest of her life.
In a remote area without mobile signal, they couldn’t call for help. Her friend tried to open the trap by hand but failed—the mechanism was too strong, and the metal wouldn’t budge.
“The worst part was the waiting. I didn’t know if anyone would come,” she said.
They remained alone in the wilderness for three hours.
After repeated attempts, they eventually managed to release the mechanism and free her leg, but the damage had already been done. Although X-rays later showed no fractures, the injuries were far from minor.
Doctors suspect serious nerve damage, as part of her leg remains numb. Olesya says the numbness persists and may never fully resolve.
An infection also developed, accompanied by fever. Despite antibiotic treatment, recovery has been slow, and she is currently almost immobile.
Experts warn that such traps—although banned in many areas—still exist in remote regions and pose a serious danger to people. They are often used for protection against wild animals or are remnants of outdated practices that were never removed.
This case once again raises concerns about safety in natural areas that are not officially maintained for tourism.
Visitors seeking “hidden” locations and lesser-known trails often underestimate the risks. In nature without warning signs, barriers, or supervision, a single misstep can lead to a situation with no easy way out.
For Olesya Fedoseenko, a trip meant to create beautiful memories ended very differently.
Instead of photos of a waterfall, she was left with the memory of metal snapping shut—and three hours she will never forget.
