Distraught dad & beachgoers dug with bare hands for 40mins to find boy, 17, dead in collapsed sand tunnel teen had dug
Riccardo Boni
Advertisement
3
Riccardo Boni died after being buried alive in a sand tunnel
Credit: Google
3
His dad, beachgoers and lifeguards began furiously digging while they waited for emergency services to arrive
3
The tragedy unfolded on Montalto di Castro beach, on the border of the Tarquinia region
Credit: Google
The family, who were at Montalto di Castro beach - 65 miles from the Italian capital, at first struggled to locate Riccardo.
It took 40 minutes for family members to find the teen, according to local reports.
Lifeguards and rescuers were called to join in on the frantic search.
His five-year-old brother screamed: 'Riccardo is under the sand" - prompting the children's dad to sound the alarm.
Advertisement
Read more world news
Two days earlier, the teen had travelled from Rome to Camping California - a camping ground in the beach town in northern Lazio - to spend the holidays with his parents, 14-year-old sister and two younger brothers, aged five and eight.
The family had laid out their towels on the sand next to the camping ground when the tragedy took place at around 3 pm, according to local reports.
Riccardo had started digging the hole in a somewhat secluded area of the beach with his siblings, who then became distracted and moved away.
The teen is believed to have dug the tunnel to a depth of around five feet.
Advertisement
Most read in The US Sun
A beachgoer told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera: 'He had built a tunnel but maybe when he was underneath, everything collapsed on him.'
They added: 'You couldn't see anything from the beach, the hole was gone, no one could see that he was under there.
Boy, 17, dies on beach after being buried alive in hole in sand he dug
"Everyone was digging but the sand was heavy."
Local prosecutors from the town of Civitavecchia and police have opened an investigation into the boy's death.
Advertisement
Investigators will decide whether an autopsy should be carried out to determine the cause of death.
Carabinieri police have interviewed family members and other witnesses.
Montalto Mayor Emanuela Socciarelli told the news agency ANSA: "A tragedy that has left us all shocked.
"It's unthinkable that a young man could lose his life in this way.
Advertisement
"I want to offer my sincere condolences to this family, to whom we are all truly deeply connected."
All public events have been suspended today to "join in silent embrace with the family".
Local authorities said: "Deepest condolences for the tragic passing of the young man. In such a time of great grief, we extend our deepest sympathies to the boy's parents and family, affected by this terrible tragedy.
"As a sign of respect, all public events scheduled for Friday, July 11, are suspended.
Advertisement
"The community of Montalto joins in silent embrace with the family."
More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos
.
Like us on Facebook at
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Horror as knifeman tackled to ground after ‘slashing 3 people' outside Aldi in broad daylight attack
THREE people have been left injured following a knife attack outside an Aldi supermarket. Officers raced to the violent scene in Bevois Valley, Southampton where they arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder. 2 The horror attack unfolded outside an Aldi in Bevois Valley, Southampton Credit: Google The suspect is described as South Asian, aged in his 40s, around 5ft 11ins and with black hair and a beard. He was wearing a red shirt and a navy blue jacket when the violent assault took place. The knifeman was wrestled to the ground by cops as horrified onlookers watched on. An officer was seen pointing his taser at the attacker but it is unclear if it was deployed. The store has been closed off and a cordon put in place as officers launch an investigation into the incident. Two coaches and a student from nearby Limitless Martial Arts jumped into action after noticing the attacker had a knife. Sohail Chowdhary, who appeared on BBC One's The Apprentice in 2022 raced to intervene alongside martial arts student Mohamed Kamal, 16. Kamal recently finished studying at Cantell School when the horror unfolded. Brave Mohamed rushed over to help, ushering bystanders into the nearby Aldi. He went on to lead the attacker in circles in the car park of the store while waiting for police officers to arrive. He told the Daily Echo: 'He just kept running that same slow pace. 'It was a bit scary, he was close at times. 'There was a point it wasn't even scary any more, it was just weird.' None of the three people caught up in the attack are thought to be seriously injured. Officers probing the incident are now asking for witnesses to come forward to assist with their investigation. A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: "We know there were a lot of people in the area at this time and we want to hear from anyone who can help with our enquiries. "Did you witness the incident or do you have any footage of what happened; whether it's CCTV, phone or dashcam? "Did you see anyone matching this description in the Southampton area today acting suspiciously or in a way that caused you concern? 'You can report information and send footage through our public portal using this link: Public Portal or by calling 101 and quoting 44250348108.'
Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
Nikita Hand sues Conor McGregor and her two former neighbours
Action lodged against MMA fighter and two former neighbours Nikita Hand speaks to the media outside the High Court last week. Photo: Collins Courts Nikita Hand is seeking aggravated and punitive damages against MMA fighter Conor McGregor over his conduct in his appeal of a jury's verdict. Ms Hand has already successfully sued McGregor in the civil courts, claiming that she was raped, with the jury finding that McGregor assaulted her. On Thursday, after the Court of Appeal threw out McGregor's appeal, Ms Hand lodged a new action against McGregor and two of her former neighbours. Samantha O'Reilly and Steven Cummins The neighbours, Samantha O'Reilly and her partner Steven Cummins, had signed affidavits alleging that Hand was assaulted by her then partner on the night of the alleged rape by McGregor in December 2018. McGregor had sought to introduce new evidence from Ms O'Reilly and Mr Cummins, but these witnesses were dramatically pulled from the appeal case at the last minute. Ms Hand had filed an affidavit saying she did not understand why the couple were telling 'lies' about her. Punitive damages seek to punish a wrongdoer by ensuring they will not repeat the same conduct again The new case filed by Ms Hand in the High Court seeks damages for 'malicious abuse of the process of the court by the defendants, and each of them, their respective agents and/or agents'. The cause of action in the case is listed a 'malicious prosecution'. As well as general damages, Ms Hand is seeking aggravated and punitive damages against the three defendants. Aggravated damages can be awarded where it is found that injury to the plaintiff has been exacerbated by the conduct of the defendant. It may be awarded when a court is satisfied that hurt was caused by 'outrageous', 'arrogant' or cavalier conduct by a defendant. Punitive damages seek to punish a wrongdoer by ensuring they will not repeat the same conduct again. These damages do not seek to compensate a plaintiff, but seek to publicly mark a court's disapproval of the defendant's conduct. These damages often relate to the defendant's conduct during legal proceedings. Conor McGregor lost his civil rape case appeal. Photo: PA In a statement after the Court of Appeal ruling on Thursday, Ms Hand said the appeal had 'retraumatised me over and over again'. After the verdict last November, Ms Hand's legal team complained that posts by McGregor and his fiancee Dee Devlin, which attacked the jury's verdict, could amount to contempt of court. Ms Hand later made an application to injunct McGregor from posting CCTV evidence from the case online after an Italian stout distributor business partner of McGregor's claimed the footage would be posted online in order to change the public's view of the case. Judge Alexander Owens ordered McGregor to destroy or return all copies of the CCTV footage that he had from the case. McGregor gave an undertaking not to distribute the footage. Ms Hand was awarded €248,603.60 in damages by the High Court last November, and McGregor was also ordered to pay about €1.3m of her legal costs. He will also have to pay her legal costs in relation to his failed appeal. McGregor claimed not to know why his legal team pulled Ms O'Reilly and Mr Cummins from giving evidence The Court of Appeal judges decided to refer papers in the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions following an application from Ms Hand's counsel John Gordon SC, who alleged there had been perjury by Ms O'Reilly and Mr Cummins, as well as subornation of perjury by McGregor. McGregor's friend James Lawrence, who was also sued by Ms Hand but was found by a jury not to have raped her, had appealed against the High Court's decision not to award him costs. This was also rejected by the Court of the Appeal, which cited evidence in the trial that McGregor was paying his friend's costs. Nikita Hand speaks to the media outside the High Court last week. Photo: Collins Courts News in 90 Seconds - Monday, August 4th On a social media post on X last week, McGregor claimed not to know why his legal team pulled Ms O'Reilly and Mr Cummins from giving evidence. He also said people were 'out of your f**king mind' if they thought he would be paying Mr Lawrence's legal costs. He wrote that he was in a 'world of fog' during the civil trial when he was asked on the stand if he was paying Mr Lawrence's legal bill and said 'I didn't know if I was'. A transcript of the trial shows McGregor said 'I believe I did', when the trial judge asked if he had paid Mr Lawrence's legal fees. In a post-verdict hearing on costs last December 5, Remy Farrell, senior counsel for McGregor, told the judge that Ms Hand's side were 'correct' to say that McGregor was paying Mr Lawrence's legal costs. Nikita Hand leaves the Four Courts last week after Conor McGregor lost his appeal. Photo: PA Mr McGregor's post said he would 'fight on with the truth and will continue to defend myself'. Meanwhile, the DPP is considering whether to refer a booklet of documents relating to Ms O'Reilly and Mr Cummins to gardaí. The documents include the affidavits both witnesses swore for the appeal, as well as new material that Ms Hand's legal team intended to put to Ms O'Reilly and Mr Cummins during their cross-examination, had both not pulled out. According to garda sources familiar with perjury investigations, the DPP is expected to refer the documents to the Garda Commissioner, who will most likely assign the file to the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigations. Such investigations typically involve corroborating the facts outlined in both sworn statements, and any allegations contained in any other documentation. It is likely the suspects will be interviewed as part of the investigation, although this is not always the case. Perjury files have been forwarded to the DPP based on an analysis without the suspect's knowledge, as was the case with Marie Farrell, once the garda's key witness in the garda investigation into the murder of Sophie Toscan Du Plantier. Ms Farrell was investigated for perjury after a High Court judge sent the DPP conflicting statements that Ms Farrell had made in evidence. She was giving evidence in the High Court in 2014 in a case where Ian Bailey sued the State for wrongful arrest. Following a garda investigation, the DPP decided Ms Farrell should not face charges. Attempts to contact Ms O'Reilly and Mr Cummins for comment at their home in Ballyfermot yesterday were unsuccessful.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Tragedy as ‘fit and healthy' volleyball player, 20, found dead at swimming pool after graduation party at Italian villa
Partygoers reportedly alerted emergency services after finding Cinà's lifeless body in the pool POOL RIDDLE Tragedy as 'fit and healthy' volleyball player, 20, found dead at swimming pool after graduation party at Italian villa A YOUNG volleyball player has been found dead in a swimming pool after a graduation party with pals at an Italian villa. Simona Cinà, 20, is said to have drowned in a pool with her face up at a private residence near Palermo. 4 Simona Cinà, 20, is said to have drowned in a pool Credit: instagram/ 4 She was attending a graduation party Credit: instagram/ 4 The 20-year-old was a volleyball player Credit: Cinà, said to be a fit and healthy volleyball player, was at a graduation party hosted by pals at the rented house. Some 80 young men and women were at the bash, and a lot of alcohol was said to be served. The partygoers reportedly alerted emergency services after finding Cinà's lifeless body in the pool, acording However, mystery has deepened over her death after criminal lawyer Gabriele Giambrone said the events at the party seemed strange to her, according to L'unione Sarda. He said: "No one saw or heard anything, yet some were still wet, a sign they'd just gotten out of the pool. "How is it possible they didn't notice anything?" The lawyer said that initially Cinà's parents were not alerted about the situation. He said it was only when her mum called her cell phone to check up on her, a young boy answered, saying her daughter was ill. Her mum and dad then rushed to the party house, only to find her dead. Mr Giambrone said that another key mystery was the party scene, which had zero evidence of alcohol, even though the invitation suggested there alcohol would be served at the party. The lawyer said: "The house was clean and there was no trace of alcohol. "It seems strange [because] the invitation sent to guests on WhatsApp guaranteed 'we want to keep you hydrated' with alcohol symbols next to it. "Yet when we arrived, there were only plastic bags with empty water bottles inside. Why was everything removed?" He added that Simona was a "health-conscious person" and was very careful about her diet, suggesting she may not have consumed any alcohol. Investigative authorities also found blood at the scene, which is now being investigated. One of the partygoers reportedly claimed that they accidentally hurt themselves during the bash. Cops are said to be conducting a DNA test to identify the blood sample. An investigation into the case continues.
