Alice Ferrari, an 11-year-old girl from Suisio, Italy, has died after her hair became trapped in a swimming pool's suction pipe while on holiday with her family in Sestri Levante, Lombardy. The incident occurred on July 15 at the Bagni Segesta lido, where Alice entered a shallow indoor pool to escape extreme heat.
Fatal Accident at Lido
Alice had been swimming in the indoor pool, approximately one metre deep, when her hair became entangled in a suction nozzle connected to the pool's filtration system. Another child raised the alarm after noticing Alice had not resurfaced. The lido's co-manager, Daniele Muzio, jumped into the pool with a pair of scissors and cut Alice's hair to free her from the water intake outlet.
Alice was unconscious when pulled from the water. She received CPR for 45 minutes before being airlifted in critical condition to Gaslini Children's Hospital in Genoa, where she died on July 17.
Investigation and Safety Concerns
Prosecutors are investigating whether safety regulations were followed, including a rule requiring children under 12 to be accompanied by an adult in swimming pools. Initial findings suggest the lido may not have displayed a mandatory sign informing visitors of this rule. The pool has been seized for examination of its safety features.
Daniele Muzio and his mother Anna Copello, co-managers of the lido, are under investigation in connection with Alice's death.
Government Response and Proposed Legislation
Italy's Minister for Civil Protection and Maritime Policies, Nello Musumeci, co-signed a bill with Health Minister Orazio Schillaci to enforce stricter pool safety measures. Musumeci stated: "In the last three months, five minors have died in swimming pools. Strict discipline is needed, but also greater caution is needed in never leaving children alone in the water." The bill is expected to be approved by the relevant committee within the month.
Tributes to a Promising Young Rider
Alice was a talented equestrian who had been riding since age six, training at the Isola Equestrian Centre in Bergamo. The Italian Equestrian Sports Federation described her as a "promising young rider with a bright future ahead of her." Her parents have decided to donate her organs, with retrieval scheduled after a post-mortem examination on July 21.
