A seven-year-old boy has died after becoming trapped in a swimming pool's suction duct at a wellness retreat in Italy. Gabriele Petrucci was celebrating his birthday with family at the Complesso Termale Vescine in Castelforte on April 18 when the tragedy occurred.
Gabriele was in the shallow water with his mother while his father stood nearby. His father, Antonello, said: 'At one point I turned round to put some things down and then I couldn't see him any more. I saw Gabriele's little body curled up in this suction pipe.' Despite efforts to free him, the pump had to be switched off before he could be released.
The family's lawyer, Francesco Lauri, stated: 'They tried to revive him for a long time, but there was nothing they could do.' Early investigations suggest the pool's suction pipe was missing a protective grate. Antonello accused the retreat of attempting to cover up the incident, claiming a grille appeared later that was not there before.
Prosecutors in Cassino are investigating four people for alleged manslaughter, including the retreat's managers, the owner of the maintenance company, and the worker responsible for refitting the grille. A technical inspection is scheduled for Monday, and Gabriele will be buried in Rome on Saturday.
The family's lawyer added: 'His death is entirely attributable to poor pool management and an outdated, non-compliant safety system.' The Mirror has contacted Complesso Termale Vescine for comment.
