Boy Dies After Being Sucked into Jacuzzi Filter at Hotel During Family Vacation in Italy
“They hope that those responsible will be criminally prosecuted and punished,” Matteo Brandimarti’s family’s attorney tells PEOPLE
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2)/Duca-di-Montefeltro-Hotel-in-Pennabilli-041026-1390a0bb4bbd497b9c9dc806576b82fc.jpg)
A boy died after being sucked into the filter of a jacuzzi at an upscale Italian hotel on Easter Sunday.
Matteo Brandimarti was staying at the upscale Duca di Montefeltro Hotel in Pennabilli, Italy, in the Province of Rimini, on April 5 when the tragic accident in the hotel’s spa occurred, per The Sun. He was 12 years old.
The incident occurred at 10:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, when Brandimarti’s leg was “sucked into the nozzle while the hydromassage function was on,” the outlet reports, citing Rimini authorities. Hotel staff allegedly intervened and turned off the jacuzzi, and a helicopter promptly airlifted the young boy to a local hospital for emergency treatment.
He was placed on life support after being trapped under three feet of water for five minutes before he was able to be released from the suction, according to Italian outlet Il Resto del Carlino.
Brandimarti was pronounced brain dead on Thursday, April 9, per the Italian media outlet.
A student at Curzi Middle School, principal Melania Martellacci called him “a lively boy, interested in life, and beloved by his classmates,” according to Il Resto del Carlino.
“Matteo’s death is a huge loss for the community,” Parish priest Don Ulderico, said of Brandimarti, per the outlet. “He was an intelligent, capable, helpful, curious, and always present child.”
Umberto Gramenzi, the attorney representing the victim’s family, tells PEOPLE that an on-site inspection is scheduled to be conducted at the hotel on May 13.
The inspection will be conducted by “The technical consultants who performed the autopsy on the child’s body, in order to examine the location where the incident took place,” Gramenzi says.
Gramenzi tells PEOPLE that the jacuzzi the child died in had a depth of 80 centimeters.
“There appears to have been negligence on the part of the hotel facility due to a malfunction in the pool’s suction system,” says. Authorities do not suspect foul play at the time of publication.
“It is considered a crime of negligence due to carelessness, imprudence, lack of competence, and failure to comply with regulations regarding pool operations,” Gramenzi claims, adding that the hotel owner, the manager, and the pool maintenance worker on shift at the time of Brandimarti’s death are under investigation. Police are reportedly investigating three unidentified persons on accusations of negligent homicide according to outlets including Rai News and Sky.
Gramenzi adds that the victim’s family is coping with his death “with great dignity.”
“The child’s organs were donated to six other children,” Gramenzi says. “They hope that those responsible will be criminally prosecuted and punished.”
PEOPLE has reached out to the Prosecutor’s Office, Rimini Police, and Duca di Montefeltro Hotel.
News
“A HIKER MADE A DISCOVERY NO ONE WAS PREPARED FOR…” Remains of missing New Mexico woman Melissa Casias found in remote forest nearly a year after she vanished — with investigators still searching for answers
“A HIKER MADE A DISCOVERY NO ONE WAS PREPARED FOR…” Remains of missing New Mexico woman Melissa Casias found in remote forest nearly a year after she vanished — with investigators still searching for answers A disturbing discovery deep inside…
“SHE WALKED OUT OF HER HOME… AND NEVER CAME BACK.” Missing New Mexico lab employee Melissa Casias found d3-ad nearly a year later as disturbing new details deepen the mystery
“SHE WALKED OUT OF HER HOME… AND NEVER CAME BACK.” Missing New Mexico lab employee Melissa Casias found d3-ad nearly a year later as disturbing new details deepen the mystery A heartbreaking discovery has brought renewed grief — and…
SH0CKING UPDATE: “SHE DROPPED OFF LUNCH FOR HER DAUGHTER… THEN VANISHED WITHOUT A TRACE.” REMAINS OF MISSING NEW MEXICO MOM FOUND NEAR A GUN NEARLY A YEAR LATER — AND THE MYSTERY IS ONLY DEEPENING
“SHE DROPPED OFF LUNCH FOR HER DAUGHTER… THEN DISAPPEARED.” Nearly a year after Melissa Casias vanished without a trace, a heartbreaking discovery in a remote forest has left New Mexico searching for answers all over again A heartbreaking discovery in…
“SHE SPENT HER LIFE SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS… NOW HER D3-ATH HAS LEFT AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY IN SH0CK.”
“SHE SPENT HER LIFE SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS… NOW HER DEATH HAS LEFT AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY IN SH0CK.” Tributes are pouring in for New Mexico scientist Melissa Casias as heartbreaking details surrounding her death leave colleagues and loved ones devastated 6…
“HE WAS WALKING TO SCHOOL… THEN EVERYTHING CHANGED IN AN INSTANT.” Young boy rushed to hospital after being st-ruck by police vehicle in St Leonards as community waits anxiously for updates
“HE WAS WALKING TO SCHOOL… THEN EVERYTHING CHANGED IN AN INSTANT.” Young boy rushed to hospital after being st-ruck by police vehicle in St Leonards as community waits anxiously for updates A community in Sydney has been left shaken after…
“‘I DID IT FOR WILLIAM AND HARRY…’ — A PRIVATE “LETTER FROM PRINCESS DIANA HAS JUST RESURFACED… AND WHAT SHE WROTE IS LEAVING ROYAL FANS IN TEARS”
“WHY DID DIANA SAY YES?” New details about Diana, Princess of Wales’s explosive TV interview are reigniting old questions — and bringing William and Harry back into the conversation 6 Fresh attention is once again falling on one of the…
End of content
No more pages to load