Sammy Basso died at the age of 28. He had progeria, a rare disease that causes premature aging although it is not mind-altering. He fell ill while he was in a restaurant at Villa Razzolini Loredan in Asolo. A few days ago he had returned to Italy from a trip to China. The staff of the Italian Progeria Association (AIPro.Sa.B.) which Sammy himself had founded in 2005 to promote research and raise awareness of this rare disease spread the news through social media: “Today our light, our guide, it went out. Thank you Sammy for letting us participate in this wonderful life. We gather around family and friends in respect of the pain in this delicate moment of mourning.”
“This evening our great friend Sammy Basso flew into the sky, he was having dinner at Villa Razzolini Loredan with friends, a great man who taught us that life is beautiful and must be lived well,” Sergio Dussin wrote on Facebook. After his illness, a Suem 118 ambulance arrived and the doctors tried to resuscitate him, but their attempt was in vain. Only a few days ago he was awarded the Paolo Rizzi Journalism Award in Venice in the “Environment and Society” category.
Born in Schio on 1 December 1995, Sammy Basso graduated with 110 cum laude in natural sciences with a focus on molecular biology at the University of Padua in July 2018, presenting a thesis dedicated to the existence of therapies to slow down the progression of one’s pathology. In 2021 he obtained a master’s degree in Molecular Biology at the University of Padua. In 2019 the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, appointed him Knight of the Republic.
To make himself known he documented his trip to the USA, along Route 66, writing a book, entitled Sammy’s journey, and recording a series of episodes for Sky’s Nat Geo People channel. There have been many messages of condolence on social media in recent hours from politicians, entertainment people and ordinary people.
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