Tragic Nursery Incident Claims Toddler's Life
A two-year-old boy has died in a heartbreaking accident at his nursery in central Italy after the drawstring of his jacket became entangled on a tree branch.
Leanardo Ricci was playing outside in the yard at Ambarabà Ciccì Coccò nursery in Bibbiena, near Arezzo, when the tragedy occurred earlier this week.
The Fatal Incident
According to reports from Italian news site La Stampa, the toddler was either running or attempting to climb when the drawstring of his jacket caught on a tree branch, strangling him.
Nursery staff discovered the boy moments later, finding him not breathing. They immediately called emergency services to the scene.
Medics performed resuscitation attempts on the young child, but tragically could not save him. Leanardo was pronounced dead at the scene.
Aftermath and Investigation
Police quickly evacuated the nursery and established cordons around the facility following the incident. The nursery will remain closed until at least next week while authorities conduct their investigation.
Prosecutors have opened a case for involuntary manslaughter as they examine the circumstances surrounding the tragic event.
The Koiné cooperative, which manages the nursery, released a statement expressing their profound grief. "We have no words that can soothe the excruciating pain of the parents and family of the child who lost his life this morning," they said.
"The tragedy is also our grief, because we feel the children who greet us with a smile every morning as our own."
The cooperative confirmed that their staff, who are "shocked and distraught by the tragedy," have made themselves fully available to investigators.
This devastating incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential hazards that everyday clothing items can pose to young children, particularly during active play.
