Man drowns in river while saving his three children; one child in serious condition

A tragic incident unfolded in the Tagliamento River near Ronchis di Latisana, in northeastern Italy, where a 38-year-old man lost his life while attempting to save his three children from the water. The man, identified as a bricklayer residing in Pontebba (Udine) but originally from Baku, Azerbaijan, drowned after entering the river to help his youngest son who was struggling.

According to initial reports, the family was gathered by the river with two other Azerbaijani families to celebrate an occasion. The tragedy began when two young daughters, aged 9 and 11, experienced difficulties in the water. Their father immediately dove in to assist them. While the daughters were reportedly helped by other bystanders, including their mother, the father's efforts focused on rescuing the youngest child.

He successfully pulled the youngest son, who was reportedly swallowed by the river, out of the water. However, the father then disappeared beneath the surface. His body was later recovered by divers on the opposite bank of the river. The area is not known for particularly strong currents.

The youngest son, who was saved by his father, suffered severe drowning symptoms and was airlifted to the hospital in Udine. However, medical personnel later declared him out of danger. The other two children, the 9 and 11-year-old daughters, were also assisted, with one of them also experiencing drowning symptoms, though less severe.

Emergency services, including multiple fire crews and a helicopter from Venice, responded to the scene after bystanders alerted authorities via the 112 emergency number. The alarm was raised upon noticing three people in distress in the river beneath the A4 highway viaduct.