World · Europe · 6 hrs ago
Three-year-old dies at home in Cassola as cause remains unclear
Three-year-old Leonardo Zanetti died at home on Tuesday in Cassola, a town in Italy’s Vicenza province.
His mother called emergency services after he suddenly had trouble breathing, and the phone operator guided her through first-aid steps.
Paramedics and an air ambulance arrived, but their efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
Leonardo had been feeling unwell since Monday, according to his family.
The cause of his death has not been established: early accounts mention possible airway blockage, but authorities have not confirmed what happened.
Carabinieri are investigating the circumstances.
An autopsy in the coming days is expected to clarify the cause.
Three-year-old Leonardo Zanetti died after a breathing crisis at his home in Cassola, in Italy’s Vicenza province, on Tuesday.
His mother called emergency services at about 11:45 a.m. and followed instructions from the emergency call centre.
Medical teams arrived by ambulance, medical car and helicopter and tried to resuscitate him, but he was declared dead at the scene.
The cause of death has not been established, and an autopsy is expected to clarify it.
Initial reports offered different possible explanations, including mucus blocking his airways, an accidental obstruction or food regurgitation.
- Who
- Leonardo Zanetti, a three-year-old boy.
- What
- He died after a sudden breathing crisis at home.
- When
- Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at about 11:45 a.m.
- Where
- His family home in San Giuseppe, Cassola, in the Vicenza province of Italy.
- Why
- The cause has not been confirmed; an autopsy is expected to establish it.
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The family said Leonardo had shown mild signs of illness.
His mother called emergency services after he stopped breathing.
Emergency teams tried to resuscitate Leonardo, but he died at the scene.
An autopsy is expected to clarify the cause of death.
- Age
- 3 years
- Name
- Leonardo Zanetti
- Location
- San Giuseppe, Cassola, Vicenza province
- Emergency call
- About 11:45 a.m. on October 20, 2026
- Autopsy
- Expected in the coming days
4 sources
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