Minister Roccella's husband missing after Lake Vico swim

The search continues for Luigi Cavallari, husband of Italian Minister Eugenia Roccella, who vanished after diving into Lake Vico on June 27. Divers have been tirelessly searching the volcanic lake's waters for ten days, but his body remains unfound.

Minister Roccella, who recently celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary with Cavallari, spoke about their enduring love in a television appearance recorded before his disappearance. She described their relationship as a "reciprocal choice" and expressed immense fortune in finding a partner who was truly a companion.

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The partner is chosen, and I was very fortunate in this our mutual choice.

She recalled meeting Cavallari, who was twelve years her senior, when she was just eighteen. Her father, Franco Roccella, a co-founder of the Radical Party, introduced them. The couple, who shared a reserved approach to their public life, also have two children, Francesco and Silvia.

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My father Franco introduced me to Luigi at a friend's house, and we never separated.

Cavallari, an engineer and respected academic, was known for his quiet and discreet nature. The couple's commitment to privacy meant that many were unaware of his connection to the prominent minister until his disappearance.

Rescue efforts are being hampered by the lake's poor visibility and low temperatures. Authorities are employing sonar technology and robots to explore the treacherous depths where divers cannot safely operate. Six people have drowned in Lake Vico over the past fifteen years, highlighting the dangers of the waters.

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Immersion is a relatively useful resource in this case, because a team of divers can do at most two a day.