He had only arrived in Kosovo a couple of days ago. Full of enthusiasm, as always when he participated in a mission, proud and courageous, happy to be with his beloved dogs. Claudio Cadeddu, from Quarto, 47 years old, could never have imagined that this would be his last time.
He met his death on the streets of Kosovo: while he was headed to Pristina he collided head-on with a civilian vehicle which, according to reconstructions, appeared to be traveling against traffic. With him there was also a colleague of his who was injured and their two dogs were transported to a field of the KFOR veterinary unit.
The tragic news fell like a bolt from the blue in Quartu, in his city which he had left when he was just 18 years old, to pursue his dream, that of a military career in the dog department. In fact, after an experience at Monfenera in Cagliari he moved to Grosseto where he worked at the military veterinary centre. The mother, father and younger brother, in their home in the Santo Stefano district, closed themselves in silent pain. They would never have believed they would lose their son in this way, even if every time he left to do what he would never have given up, the fears were always closed in their hearts.
And Claudio returned to his city and his family as soon as he could, even if his life was now elsewhere, with his wife and his nine-year-old daughter, now entangled in inconsolable pain.
Claudio, according to everyone who knew him, was a boy with a heart of gold and did his job in a serious and scrupulous manner, always accompanied by his great love for animals. Dogs were a part of his life and always accompanied him. Even in Kosovo on the day of that damned accident. And it is on dogs that he has focused his career, working in the dog department. And with them he participated in many missions and was proud to have realized his dream.
Meanwhile, yesterday words of condolence also arrived from the ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo in Italy Lendita Haxhitasim, who expressed sadness and closeness to the wife, daughter and all the family members of Claudio Cadeddu, the soldier serving at the Peja base who tragically passed away in a road accident in Kosovo> and renews <appreciation and gratitude for the important and highly professional work that the Italians of the KFOR contingent in Kosovo are carrying out>.
However, condolences had previously been received from Army Chief of Staff Pietro Serino and Defense Minister Guido Crosetto. And there were also many messages of condolence on social media from those who knew Claudio and are still astonished at the news of his death which arrived so suddenly and unexpectedly.
The Italian contingent operating in Kosovo in the KFOR mission is made up of Army and Carabinieri men with over 800 units, 137 ground vehicles and one aircraft. Italy is leading the peacekeeping mission with Major General Angelo Michele Ristuccia. There are soldiers who operate in the NATO command while the contingent includes men from the 11th Bersaglieri Regiment and the Carabinieri. Inside there are also the staff of the military veterinary center of Grosseto which also included Claudio Cadeddu who worked with the dog units in the mission.
Giorgia Daga
