A security guard has tragically frozen to death while working an overnight shift at a venue for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy. The incident has sparked a major investigation into working conditions at the prestigious international event.
Fatal Shift in Extreme Cold
Pietro Zantonini, aged 55, died while on duty at the ice rink in Cortina d'Ampezzo, northern Italy. The area was experiencing bitterly cold temperatures of around -16 degrees Celsius at the time. The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday morning, approximately at 2am.
Reports indicate that Zantonini was carrying out his overnight security responsibilities when he began to feel unwell. He managed to contact colleagues to ask for assistance, prompting an immediate alarm. An ambulance was dispatched to the scene, but despite the rapid arrival of emergency services, he was pronounced dead.
Investigation into Working Conditions
Subsequent investigations have revealed that Zantonini suffered a fatal heart attack as he collapsed in the snow. Andrea Varnier, CEO of the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, confirmed to reporters that preliminary information pointed to a death by natural causes. However, he stressed that an investigation was ongoing.
The case has drawn high-level political attention. Italy's Infrastructure Minister, Matteo Salvini, has demanded a "full and rigorous investigation" into the circumstances surrounding the death. Prosecutors are now examining whether the tragedy was linked solely to the extreme cold or if there were failures related to working conditions and shift organisation.
Disturbing details have emerged about the environment in which Zantonini was working:
- He was stationed in a small guard booth heated only by a portable heater.
- His duties required him to leave this shelter every two hours to patrol the construction area.
- His family confirmed he had frequently complained about these harsh working conditions beforehand.
Family and Official Responses
In an official statement, Zantonini's family highlighted that he "was working a night shift outdoors in particularly harsh weather conditions." The infrastructure company Simico, linked to the site, expressed its condolences but stated the construction area was not under its direct responsibility, adding it would await the outcome of official probes.
The Winter Olympics are scheduled to take place between February 6 and 22 in Milan and Cortina, casting a shadow over the final preparations for the global sporting event. This tragic incident raises urgent questions about the duty of care for workers involved in delivering such major international spectacles.
