“The last beautiful gesture before dying” Firefighter Antonio Ciccorelli was about to retire

Firefighter found dead in emergency vehicle: he had saved two lives before being overwhelmed by flood waters caused by bad weather

Antonio Ciccorellihead of the Fire Department, lost his life last night while trying to bring aid to the population overwhelmed by the wave of bad weather that has devastated the province. The heroic firefighter, close to retirement, had just saved two women trapped in a flooded underpass. He himself was a victim of the fury of the water, overwhelmed by the flood of a torrent on the road between San Severo and Apricena.

It was a rescue operation like many others for Ciccorelli, who was approaching 60 years old, but he did not hesitate to throw himself into the front line. The storm that hit the Foggia area created an inferno of mud and water, leaving dozens of motorists stranded and in danger. The rescuer was part of a team of 25 firefighters sent with various vehicles to the affected areas to save as many lives as possible.

After rescuing the two women, the company car in which Ciccorelli and a colleague were moving was hit by the fury of the water. A torrent in flood, swollen by the intense rains, overwhelmed the vehicle, dragging it for about 700 meters. Ciccorelli’s colleague miraculously managed to save himself, but there was nothing that could be done for Antonio. His body was found inside the passenger compartment, now lifeless, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, in a canal that runs alongside the state road.

The news has thrown colleagues and the entire local community into despair. “We are shocked. Even if we take into account that it could happen by profession, it is an immense tragedy. An enormous pain,” said the firefighters of the San Severo team, still in disbelief at the loss of their foreman.

Antonio Ciccorelli leaves behind a wife and a son. Many messages of condolence arrived from the institutional world, both local and national. The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, expressed his grief for the tragic loss of a servant of the State, underlining the courage and sacrifice of a man who gave his life for the good of others. The mayors of San Severo and Foggia also expressed their condolences and announced a day of mourning for the day of the funeral.

The President #Mattarella expressed his condolences for the death of Firefighter Antonio Ciccorelli in the province of #Foggia pic.twitter.com/njd2NCGRtC

— Quirinale (@Quirinale) September 18, 2024

With his last heroic act Antonio Ciccorelli has once again demonstrated the true meaning of sacrifice and service to the community.