Day of grief after tragic Italian earthquake that killed hundreds
ITALY observed a national day of mourning yesterday as state funerals were held for some of the hundreds killed in last week’s earthquake.
Italy observed a national day of mourning yesterday as state funerals were held for the victims
Around 290 people, including 14-year-old British schoolboy Marcos Burnett, died in Wednesday’s 6.2 magnitude quake, which also left 400 injured.
Italian president Sergio Mattarella, prime minister Matteo Renzi and other leaders joined mourners in a sports hall in Ascoli Piceno, 90 miles north-east of Rome.
Hundreds more stood silently outside as the sombre service was relayed to them by loudspeakers.
Among the 35 coffins inside was the small, white casket for nine-year-old Giulia Rinaldo, whose dying act was to shield her five-year-old sister Giorgia with her body, saving her life.
Giovanni D’Ercole, the town’s bishop, said: “Giulia died but she was protecting Giorgia. Life and death came face-to-face and, for Giorgia, life won.”
A note on Giulia’s coffin, written by a rescue worker, read: “Ciao, little one. I’m sorry we arrived too late.”
Last night another rescuer described his harrowing experience as he and his dog searched for survivors.
Marco Amerio, 37, and his dog Buck are attached to an Alpine mountain rescue team and usually search for survivors buried under snow by avalanches.
Last night tributes continued to pour in for British school boy Marcos Burnett
He said: “I got the call on Wednesday, saying there were people trapped and I was needed there.
“Usually we deal with avalanches, and I was worried whether Buck would cope with the different conditions, but we had to try.”
By 11am the pair, who have been companions for more than four years, had clambered into a helicopter bound for Amatrice, 60 miles from Rome.
The destruction of the small town, voted Italy’s most beautiful last year, was almost complete.
Funerals held for earthquake victims in Italy
Describing the scene, Marco said: “We were confronted with a town reduced to rubble. You’d think it had been deliberately bulldozed.” The pair searched tirelessly for two days.
The town was reduced to rubble - you’d think it had been deliberately bulldozed
“I took Buck to wherever people were digging,” he said. “The quake hit early as people slept and we learned to look for clues, like mattresses sticking out of the debris, to focus our search.
“Buck became agitated and barked several times. A second team behind us would start digging every time Buck made a sign while I went on ahead.”
Marcos Burnett died when the buildings collapsed like playing cards. He was staying in nearby Sommati with his parents and family friends.
The small, white casket for nine-year-old Giulia Rinaldo who died shielding her sister
His body was found buried in the remains of the stone villa owned by Maria and Will Henniker-Gotley, who also died.
Marcos’s parents, Anne-Louise and Simon Burnett, were badly injured, while the Henniker-Gotley’s children, Jack, 14, and Francesca, 15, managed to escape unharmed along with Marcos’s sister and another teenage girl.
Last night tributes continued to pour in for Marcos, who attended Wetherby School in Marylebone, London.
Captain of his year’s basketball team, he was described as “utterly charming, personable and engaging company”.
Marco Amerio, 37, and his dog Buck search for survivors buried under the rubble
Mrs Henniker-Gotley, 51, of Stockwell, south London, was a finance manager at The Prince’s Foundation for Children and The Arts in Bethnal Green, while her husband, 55, is thought to have worked as an IT consultant.
Jeremy Newton, the charity’s chief executive, said: “The whole team is shocked and saddened by the news of her death and that of her husband Will, who was also a staunch supporter of our work.”
Italy has declared a state of emergency and authorised an initial £43million in aid for the stricken area.