Worker Dies After 11 Hours Trapped Within Partially Collapsed Medieval Tower In Rome

ROME (AP) — Firefighters late Monday finally managed to pull a worker from under rubble inside a medieval tower that partially collapsed during renovations in the heart of the city. of italy But the joy of this rescue was short-lived.

The man could not bear the trauma and died soon after.

Italy said, “I express my deep sorrow and condolences on behalf of myself and my government.” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni He confirmed his death in a statement after midnight. “We remain close to his family and colleagues at this time of inexplicable pain.”

In a statement on Tuesday morning, Romania’s foreign ministry identified the man as Octav Stroici and thanked rescuers who worked 11 hours to extract him for their determination. The statement stated that another Romanian was successfully removed and out of danger.

Rescuers faced a complex task as they tried to use a first-floor window to approach the trapped worker. But as the structure continued to collapse, they were forced to retreat in a cloud of debris. Another approach with two ladders was also canceled and a drone was sent in their place.

As dusk approached, firefighters hoisted on a crane used giant tubes to suck debris from a second-story window. They continued to work until late at night.

Three rescuers eventually loaded the trapped worker, Stroici, onto a telescopic aerial ladder, then climbed down and carried him on a stretcher to the ambulance.

“The operation took a long time because every time part of the body was released, more rubble covered it,” Rome Governor Lamberto Giannini told reporters.

Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri had earlier told reporters that the worker spoke to rescuers and used an oxygen mask. He added that rescue teams worked extremely carefully in a “very delicate extraction operation” to prevent further collapse.

Fire department spokesman Luca Cari said three workers were rescued unharmed after the first incident at noon. Another worker, a 64-year-old man, was hospitalized in critical condition; RAI reported that he was conscious and his nose was broken.

No firefighters were injured in the subsequent operation.

Torre dei Conti was built by Pope Paul III in the 13th century. It was built by Innocent as the residence of his family. The tower was damaged in the 1349 earthquake and subsequently collapsed in the 17th century.

Hundreds of tourists had gathered to watch firefighters use a mobile ladder to lift the stretcher to the upper level of Torre dei Conti during the first rescue attempt. Suddenly another part of the structure collapsed, creating a cloud of debris and forcing firefighters to quickly descend.

The initial collapse struck the central buttress on the south side of the structure, causing the sloping base below to fall. Cultural heritage officials said in a statement that the stairwell and the second part of the roof were damaged.

Queen Paglinawan, 27, was tending to a customer at the ice cream parlor next door when the tower first began to crumble.

“I was working and then I heard something falling and then I saw the tower collapse diagonally,” Paglinawan, 27, told The Associated Press.

The tower, closed since 2007, is undergoing a 6.9 million euro (about $8 million) restoration that includes conservation work, the installation of electrical, lighting and water systems and the installation of a new museum dedicated to the final stages of the Roman Imperial Forum, officials said.

Structural inspections and load tests were carried out “to verify the stability of the structure and verify the required safety conditions” to continue work, including the removal of asbestos, before moving into the final phase in June, officials said. The current study, carried out at a cost of 400,000 euros ($460,000), was nearly completed.

According to Italian media reports, Italian prosecutors arrived at the scene while the rescue operation was ongoing and were investigating possible charges of negligent disaster and negligent injuries. In Italy, it is common for investigations to begin while an incident is ongoing and before possible suspects have been identified.

German student Viktoria Braeu had just finished a tour of the nearby Colosseum and was walking past the scene during firefighters’ first rescue attempt.

“Then we said, ‘It probably won’t take long for it to fall,’ and then it started exploding,” said Braeu, 18.

Romanian President Nicusor Dan issued a statement to X on Tuesday, expressing his “deep sadness” after learning of Stroici’s death in hospital and expressing his condolences to his loved ones.

AP reporters Colleen Barry in Milan, Silvia Stellaci in Rome and Stephen McGrath in Leamington Spa, England, contributed.