11‑year‑old Alice dies in Sestri Levante pool suction accident
On 15 July 2026, 11‑year‑old Alice was playing in the Bagni Segesta pool in Sestri Levante when her hair became entangled in the suction inlet (bocchettone) of the pool’s filtration system. Bystanders rescued her, cutting the hair with scissors, but she remained unconscious. Paramedics performed CPR for about 45 minutes before air‑lifting her to the Giannina Gaslini Hospital in Genoa. After two days in critical condition, the hospital declared her death during the night of observation.
The parents authorised organ donation. The prosecutor opened a culpable‑homicide investigation and the pool was seized for technical inspection by the Carabinieri and the Coast Guard. The tragedy heightened national attention on pool safety: the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA) reports 75 pool‑related deaths in Italy from 2022 to July 2026, with over half the victims under 12 years old and 44 % due to medical events. The government, led by Ministers Nello Musumeci and Orazio Schillaci, is preparing a stricter safety law for public and private swimming facilities.
SIMA and water‑safety experts urge constant adult supervision, proper signage, barriers and regular equipment checks to prevent similar incidents.