Italian authorities are investigating whether a body found in an advanced state of decomposition on a Libyan beach belongs to Mimmo Piepoli, a 39-year-old kitesurfer who disappeared off the coast of Porto Cesareo, Italy, on May 1, 2026. The corpse, discovered in Benghazi, Libya, was wearing a wetsuit and accompanied by a kitesurf board that match those of Piepoli, according to the Italian Consulate General in Benghazi.
Disappearance and Search
Piepoli, a father of two from Erechie in Brindisi, Italy, was last seen kitesurfing in the waters near Porto Cesareo. A large-scale search operation was launched within hours of his disappearance but failed to locate him. The experienced surfer had been missing for over two months before the body was found.
Discovery in Libya
Local Libyan authorities alerted the Italian Consulate after the remains washed ashore. The consulate stated that the body was discovered "with a wetsuit and a kitesurf board that appear to belong to Italian Mimmo Piepoli, who went missing at sea on May 1 during a kitesurfing trip off the coast of Puglia." The remains, described as being in an advanced state of decomposition, had likely traveled approximately 580 miles from Italy to Libya.
Identification Process
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has been in contact with Piepoli's family, as well as the mayor of Erechie, Giuseppe Margheriti. However, the consulate stopped short of confirming the body's identity definitively, stating that DNA testing by Libyan authorities is required. The statement added: "The necessary investigations to identify the body are underway. Confirmation of the identity will be possible only after DNA testing. To this end, the Consulate General has formally requested the Libyan authorities to initiate the necessary procedures for the examination and continues to monitor the case, also in view of the possible repatriation of the body."
Family's Grief
Days before the body was found, Piepoli's partner posted a heartfelt message on social media, expressing her anguish: "Two damn months, that I don't see you...that I don't touch your big hands, it's been two months since I haven't heard your voice, always delicate, calm...two months of questions, without answers...two months of silence, agony, anguish...I miss you."
If confirmed, the discovery ends a two-month ordeal for the family and highlights the vast distances that ocean currents can carry a body. The Italian authorities continue to work with Libyan officials to repatriate the remains once identification is complete.
