Trieste car plunge saved by military academy cadets
On 12 July 2026 a car carrying a 41‑year‑old driver slipped off the pier at Piazza Unità d’Italia in Trieste and sank in the sea. Cadets and staff from the Modena Military Academy, who were on an official city visit, immediately jumped into the water, reached the vehicle and pulled the driver to safety. The driver was handed over to emergency medical services; his injuries were reported as not life‑threatening.
The rescue operation expanded to include the local fire brigade, the Port Authority, divers and a helicopter from the Venice fire unit, which located the submerged car at about 7 m depth and 20 m from the shore. Special lift balloons were used to raise the vehicle and a crane pulled it ashore. One cadet suffered minor hand injuries while breaking a window, and a firefighter was also treated for bruises.
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised the cadets for their quick, selfless action, describing it as a proud example of military duty and civic responsibility. Police investigations are ongoing to determine why the car entered the water.