The forensic examination conducted on the body of Sebastiano Piaggi has revealed severe head trauma, pointing to a potential impact with a boat propeller as the cause of death. Piaggi, a 21-year-old resident of Riccò del Golfo, lost his life in the waters off Porto Venere on Ferragosto after being thrown from an inflatable boat carrying five people in total, according to local reports.
The autopsy, performed by forensic experts, brought to light three deep, parallel wounds on the left side of the young man’s skull, accompanied by bone fractures and significant hemorrhaging. Legal and investigative teams closely followed the procedure as the judicial inquiry continues to unfold.
Investigators are working to establish the exact sequence of events that led to the tragedy during the mid-August holiday excursion. The primary focus centers on whether the fatal impact came from the motor of the vessel the group was using or from another boat navigating the area at the time.
Autopsy Findings and Medical Examination Details
Pathologists also detected a considerable amount of liquid in his lungs, an indicator of terminal drowning following the loss of consciousness. However, medical experts concluded that the head trauma alone was severe enough that it would have proved fatal even without the subsequent immersion in the sea.
The examination was attended by a panel of consultants representing the various parties involved in the legal proceedings.
Chronology of the Incident and Search Operations
The tragic sequence began on the afternoon of August 15, when Piaggi and another passenger were thrown into the water near the San Pietro area. While the other passenger managed to resurface and get back onto the inflatable boat, Piaggi vanished beneath the surface. An emergency call to the 112 services was placed around 19:10, prompting an immediate response roughly ten minutes later.
A multi-day search operation involving numerous maritime units and specialized personnel commenced following the disappearance. The recovery operation concluded when authorities retrieved Piaggi’s body near the rocks close to the incident site. The La Spezia Harbor Office coordinated the recovery efforts while family members and friends maintained a constant vigil along the dock.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings and Investigation
The public prosecutor’s office opened a formal investigation into nautical homicide during the early days of the search. The driver of the inflatable boat, a 21-year-old from La Spezia, remains the sole individual under formal investigation as authorities reconstruct the precise dynamics of the accident. Alcohol screening tests administered to the other occupants on board yielded negative results across the board.
As the legal process moves forward, further investigative phases will determine responsibility and clarify whether the vessel’s own propulsion system or an external craft caused the fatal injuries. Judicial authorities and forensic experts will analyze the technical data collected during the autopsy to close remaining gaps in the case file.
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