The Italian news website ANSA reported a serious incident in Zafferana Etnea, Catania province (www.ansa.it). During a women's volleyball Serie C match between Zafferana Volley and Volley '96 Milazzo, volleyball players were exposed to dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide due to a gas leak from the heating system in the hall.
Tragedy was avoided at the last minute in the "Palatenda" sports hall when the match was suddenly interrupted after one of the athletes collapsed on the court, and others began to show severe discomfort, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. Within minutes, the symptoms spread among more and more players, leading to panic and immediate evacuation of the facility.
A doctor present at the match noticed an unusual smell and requested the intervention of the fire department, suspecting a serious problem. Firefighters carried out measurements and confirmed the presence of carbon monoxide – a colorless and odorless gas that can be deadly in confined spaces, as it causes loss of consciousness, respiratory failure, and in extreme cases – fatal outcome.
A total of 15 people were urgently transported to "Cannizzaro" and "Garibaldi" hospitals in Catania.
– Eight of the athletes – six from Milazzo, one from Zafferana Volley, and one person present in the hall – were even admitted to a hyperbaric chamber due to high levels of carbon monoxide in their bodies.
– The remaining seven underwent oxygen therapy in the emergency room.
Fortunately, all were discharged overnight after their condition stabilized.
The incident provoked strong reactions. Volley '96 Milazzo issued a categorical statement, emphasizing that their athletes "risked their lives" and that the situation was absolutely unacceptable. The club insists on a full investigation and guarantees that such a thing will not happen again:
"We cannot remain silent. Carbon monoxide is a silent and deadly gas. Today, our girls risked their lives."
Meanwhile, the Catania public prosecutor's office confirmed to ANSA that preliminary proceedings have been initiated for negligent bodily harm (lesioni colpose). For now, there are no defendants, but the heating system has been sealed, and the fire department and technical services are conducting expert assessments to determine the cause of the leak. One of the most serious questions the investigation needs to answer is why the system was turned on if it had not been officially accepted or tested.
The case sheds new light on the issue of safety in sports halls in Sicily – many of them use old heating installations and lack modern air control systems. The incident in Zafferana Etnea shows how quickly a sports event can turn into a life-threatening situation in the absence of adequate technical control.
Despite the fear and tension, the most important thing is that all affected individuals are now out of danger. But the topic is far from over – the prosecution, sports institutions, and local authorities are expected to provide answers and take measures to prevent a recurrence of such an incident in the future.
photo:ansa.it
