Sickness at sea while freediving, nothing can be done for a 67-year-old man

CASABALATE – He loved the sea all his life, he disappeared in the sea while he was free-diving. The tragedy occurred in the early afternoon in Casalabate, Trepuzzi and Squinzano marinas, in the stretch near the Era Ura lido, on the coast road that connects to the nearby Torre Rinalda. Nicola Refolo, 67 years old, resident of Lecce, lost his life.

As mentioned, the man was doing some diving, when he must have been struck by a sudden illness. And, unfortunately, when someone from the shore noticed that motionless body, at the surface of the water, there was already very little that could be done. The lifeguards from the nearby beach jumped in to recover him and bring him to shore for first aid, in the meantime the 118 operators were also called, but, unfortunately, every attempt at resuscitation was in vain and in the end there was nothing else to do but to confirm Refolo’s death.

The coast guard of the Otranto Maritime District Office and the Carabinieri of the Trepuzzi station intervened on site. After hearing the public prosecutor on duty, the body was returned to the family and transferred to the mortuary of the Trepuzzi cemetery.

A native of San Pietro Vernotico, his wife is from Trepuzzi and it was, therefore, a town that he frequented assiduously. A school teacher, after many years in Lombardy, Nicola Refolo had returned to Salento and, before reaching retirement, had taught at the Art High School of Lecce.

His friends called him “the artist of the sea”, because he had dedicated his entire existence to the big blue brother, quoting a passage from the famous song by Umberto Tozzi and Raf. Not only was he an expert in fishing, but he had also created precious illustrations and terracotta sculptures, all with the sea and the beings that populate it as a central theme. And then, he had written for important magazines in the sector and been part of various associations for the protection of the sea, thus combining passion and competence. And fate wanted him to die in the waters he loved so much.