A tragic accident occurred in Fasano, southern Italy, resulting in the death of a 25-year-old woman who fell down an elevator shaft in her apartment building. The incident unfolded during the early hours of July 1, 2024. Clelia Ditano, unaware that the elevator was still descending from four floors above, pressed the button and walked into the open elevator shaft.
Local news outlets have reported that Ditano dropped down the vacant shaft, landing on the roof of the elevator situated on the first floor. The impact of the fall resulted in her immediate death. Her father found her body later that morning after he called her cell phone and heard it ring from within the elevator shaft.
Emergency services were summoned and arrived at the scene around 8 a.m. The elevator is currently being examined by investigators to determine why the doors opened despite the elevator not being present. The initial findings indicate that there could have been a malfunction in the safety mechanisms of the elevator, which should have prevented the doors from opening if the cabin was not at the floor.
Before the incident, Ditano, who was employed as a cleaner at several local bed and breakfasts, shared a photo on Instagram. The photo showed her dressed in a matching off-white top and skirt, seemingly ready for a night out. On the day of her untimely death, she posted another picture of herself in a black dress with the caption: “Here’s to what’s to come.”
The sudden loss of Ditano has left her friends and family grief-stricken. One of her friends, Ilenia, paid tribute to her by writing: “It wasn’t supposed to go this way. You were supposed to make all your dreams come true, the family you wanted to create, find true love…” Another friend left a comment on her last Instagram post: “Beautiful and kind, you had a life ahead of you to live.”
The cause of the malfunction is currently under investigation by authorities. As one investigator put it, “We can assume a malfunction of the locking system because the door should only open when the cabin is on the floor.”
This tragic event has sparked questions regarding the safety protocols and maintenance standards of residential building elevators.
Ditano’s father is grappling with the devastating loss. Friends and family are expressing their condolences and sharing memories of Ditano, painting a picture of a bright, lively young woman who had a passion for dance and sports.