In stage 3 of the 2011 Giro d'Italia, Wouter crashed coming down the Passo del Bocco, near the town of Mezzanego, suffering catastrophic injury. It is reported that cardiac massage was carried out for around 25 minutes, and that he was given adrenaline and atropine. He was airlifted off the descent approximately 25 minutes after his fall. All the resuscitation attempts failed and the sportsman died on-the-spot.