A 15-year-old footballer has died after an arcade game sent a fatal electric shock through his body. Alessio Colletti died in Spotorno, northern Italy, on Thursday, July 16. He was visiting the seaside town with a friend when he tried a football kicking machine, an amusement game that measures the power of a player’s kick.
The teenager, a team captain for local club Amor Saronno, was reportedly barefoot when he kicked the ball and suffered a powerful electric shock.
Investigation into the incident
Investigators are examining whether water from a storm that hit the area shortly before the incident may have affected the electrical system of the attraction. The Savona Prosecutor's technical team is investigating why the machine's RCD circuit breaker failed to trip and cut the power when the electrical leakage occurred. An independent electromagnetic engineer from the University of Turin has been appointed to dismantle the machine's internal control unit and determine how rainwater bypassed the outer casing.
The alarm was raised at around 11pm, and emergency crews rushed Alessio to San Paolo Hospital in Savona in a critical condition. He died the following day.
Park closed and investigation launched
The amusement park was immediately closed and the attraction was seized as police and firefighters began checks on the electrical systems and safety measures. Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fatal electric shock, with initial checks focusing on a possible fault involving the machine’s power supply or grounding system.
The Savona Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into possible manslaughter. The owner or manager of the calciometro attraction has been placed under investigation while technical checks are carried out.
Tributes and community response
Alessio’s parents were not with him at the time, as he had been spending a few days away with his friend and the friend’s family. His team-mates at Amor Saronno first learned of his death via a text message sent by his mother into the team's group chat on Friday morning.
Saronno local official Ilaria Pagani said: “It is a tragedy that should never happen. It is impossible to find words to ease the suffering of the family, who we stand beside with affection, as well as his friends, classmates and everyone who loved him.”
Spotorno mayor Mattia Fiorini said the local community had been deeply affected and confirmed the administration was working with investigators. “The amusement park has existed for many years and has always been managed by the same people,” he said.
