Tragedy struck in the Alghero harbor on the eve of the Italian Spearfishing Qualification Championship, scheduled for September 18th and 19th in the waters of the Alghero area. A competition assistant, an experienced diver, died this afternoon, September 14th, from causes yet to be determined while he was at sea during pre-competition testing.
The victim is Francesco Pagni , from Sarzana , 47 years old, a freediving enthusiast and a great expert of the ocean floor.
According to initial information, the man was conducting a reconnaissance of the competition area, an activity that precedes official trials and allows athletes and assistants to study the seabed and identify the characteristics of the areas where the competition will take place. During this phase, something went wrong. The circumstances and cause of death are still under investigation.
The diver's body was recovered and transported to the docks of the port of Alghero, where it remained at the disposal of the judicial authorities for the necessary examinations. It was subsequently transported to the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Rizzeddu Health Complex in Sassari for an autopsy.
A tragedy that strikes the world of spearfishing just a few days before the national event, organized by GS Corallo Sub, which should attract dozens of athletes from all over Italy to Alghero.