He dived into the water immediately after eating and drinking on the Cala Mariolu beach, off the coast of Baunei. Moments later, he suddenly felt unwell, likely from congestion. The man, a 58-year-old from Terni, was immediately treated, but his condition appeared very critical, partly because, at least initially, a heart problem was suspected.
It happened this afternoon. The crew of Echo Lima 3, the Areus helicopter that took off from Elmas base, was dispatched to the scene to rescue him. The rugged terrain of the stretch of road complicated the operation, so the helicopter's technicians lowered the doctor using a winch.
The man, who remained alert and conscious throughout, though in a rather weakened condition, was taken aboard and transferred to the Lanusei fire department's helipad, where an ambulance was waiting to take him to the emergency room. Here, medical personnel performed all necessary checks and monitored the tourist's condition, which improved as the hours passed.
