Soci (Arezzo) - An unimaginable tragedy has shaken the municipality of Soci near Bibbiena in the province of Arezzo. A two-year-old boy, Leonardo Ricci, died tragically in the garden of the municipal kindergarten „Ambarabà Ciccì Coccò“.
According to initial reconstructions, the drama occurred while playing outside. Little Leonardo was apparently running through the garden when the cord of his hoodie got caught in a branch. The cord tightened around his neck and strangled him.
The staff at the facility apparently noticed the terrible incident immediately. The nursery nurses desperately tried to free the boy and immediately began resuscitation measures while alerting the emergency services. An ambulance and the „Pegaso“ rescue helicopter arrived quickly. The rescuers fought doggedly for over an hour to save the child's life - but all attempts were unsuccessful.
Public prosecutor's office investigates involuntary manslaughter
The Arezzo public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into involuntary manslaughter. The chief public prosecutor, Julia Maggiore, attended the scene in person to get an idea of the situation. The garden of the kindergarten was cordoned off by the carabinieri from Bibbiena and confiscated for the investigation. At this stage, there are reportedly no official suspects. The kindergarten teacher who first tried to help Leonardo suffered a severe shock and had to be treated in hospital.
Community in shock
The boy's parents, Alessandro and Caterina, a young couple well known in the town, were surprised by the news at work. They rushed to the kindergarten, where they received the terrible news. The Koinè cooperative, which runs the kindergarten, expressed its deepest condolences in a note: „The loss of a child is absolute pain.“ They are at the full disposal of the investigators. The mayor of Bibbiena, Filippo Vagnoli, spoke of a „tragedy that hurts everyone“ and ordered the town to mourn and temporarily close the facility.
