A 9-year-old disabled girl was rescued by an off-duty Carabiniere after falling into the sea from the dock in Riccione port. The incident occurred late yesterday evening, shortly before midnight, during the fireworks display for the “Our Lady of the Sea” festival on the canal port of Riccione, crowded with hundreds of spectators.
The wheelchair-bound girl accidentally lost her balance and slipped from the quay into the harbor water, where the depth exceeds two meters. Among the crowd was the 44-year-old Carabiniere, assigned to the Radiomobile unit of Riccione, who was attending the event while off-duty. The officer, realizing what happened, immediately plunged into the water. He reached the child within moments as she struggled, still secured in her wheelchair and at risk of sinking. He freed her from the safety restraints and swiftly brought her to the surface to the applause of the stunned onlookers.
On the quayside, medical personnel already present for the event provided the child with first aid. Both the girl and her rescuer were reported to be in good condition. The family, residents of Lombardy on vacation in the Riviera, expressed their emotional gratitude to the Carabiniere.