Andrea Innocenti Late Wednesday afternoon, the quiet town of Altino was the scene of a tragedy that left the entire population in shock. A six-year-old boy , enjoying his usual snack, suddenly choked when a morsel of food went down his throat.
The little boy, who was in first grade, was in his kitchen at home when, in the middle of his break, he began to show signs of breathing difficulties.
The parents, immediately alerted, attempted to clear the airways with their own hands, but the situation rapidly worsened, forcing them to call for help.
The dramatic snack episode in Selva di Altino
According to investigators' reports, the accident occurred around 18 p.m., when the child was eating his snack.
A morsel, likely too large or insufficiently chewed, ended up in the child's trachea, causing a complete blockage of airflow. The terrified parents rushed to their car to get to the Consalvi hospital in Casoli, hoping to gain precious minutes.
First aid from parents and intervention by the Carabinieri
As soon as they arrived on the scene, the parents attempted basic resuscitation, but the seriousness of the case required the immediate intervention of the Casoli Carabinieri, who collected the parents' statements and preserved the initial evidence.
The rapid response of law enforcement was crucial in starting the rescue chain, even though time was extremely limited.
The resuscitation attempt at the Consalvi hospital in Casoli
Once the child reached the Casoli local hospital , he was met by medical personnel, who promptly began resuscitation. Despite the combined efforts of the attending physicians, the child's condition was critical, and his clinical condition left no further hope of survival.
Intervention of the air rescue and medical car
At the same time, the Fire Department's air ambulance was activated , flying from Pescara, to transfer the child to a better-equipped intensive care unit. A medical vehicle immediately arrived at the hospital to ensure continuous support. Unfortunately, even the air ambulance was not enough: upon arrival, the child was no longer showing any vital signs, and the staff pronounced him dead.
Institutional reactions and community mourning
Altino Mayor Vincenzo Muratelli expressed his condolences in a statement on the municipality's social media channels, describing the tragedy as "an event that has shocked everyone's heart and soul." He emphasized the "heartbreaking grief of the parents" and the "desperate rush to the Casoli garrison" that marked the day of sadness and dismay. The community, united in deep grief, has gathered around the little boy's family, originally from Colombia but long-time residents of Selva di Altino, to offer support and solidarity.
Authorities, including the Carabinieri, have opened an investigation to clarify every aspect of the accident, although, at the moment, the theories are pointing to accidental choking on a morsel of food. Meanwhile, the local primary school held a brief day of remembrance to honor the memory of the young "angel" who had just begun to carve out his own life path amidst friends and games.