“Little Fatou, we hoped for a miracle and prayed for you to recover”: the mayor Claudio Bolandrini acts as spokesperson for the entire community of Caravaggio (in the Bergamo area), “dismayed” by the tragedy of the death of Fatou Sarr, the 11-year-old of Senegalese origins who died on the afternoon of Thursday 20 June after three days of agony in hospital Pope John XXIII of Bergamo, where she had been hospitalized following an illness in the swimming pool at the Aquaneva water park in Inzago (in the Milanese hinterland) during a trip with Cre, the summer oratory.
“We gather with great affection around your family and that of the San Luigi Gonzaga oratory, a Don Andrea Pianato the entertainers, children and young people of Cre, all affected by an unfair and impossible to express pain – continues the mayor, in the post posted on social media after yesterday the doctors officially declared the little girl brain dead and disconnected the machinery who kept her alive artificially – We will help fulfill your wish to return to Senegal, your homeland”.
In fact, the solidarity competition has already started to concretely demonstrate closeness and support to the Sarr family, who launched the crowdfunding campaign ‘Let’s bring Fatou home’ on the Gofundme platform: “After the tragedy that struck us, we would only like to be able to bring our little girl back to the island where she was born, Bettenty. There he will be able to reunite with his entire original family and with the places he loved so much. We ask you for help to support these great costs – the parents wrote – This whole situation has hit us suddenly and we want at least to be able to show her for the last time that sea and that land that she loved so much and to which she would return, as he always said, finished university in Italy”.
Dreams unfortunately destined to remain dreams: “Fatou will no longer be able to graduate or go to sixth grade as she so desired – continue her family – However, we want to fulfill her desire to return, as if she had really taken that degree. If you want to help us, we will be grateful. Justice and truth for Fatou”.
Many inhabitants of Caravaggio (and not only) are giving their contribution and in just a few hours the fundraising, thanks to more than 300 donors, has already largely exceeded the set target of six thousand euros, reaching over nine thousand.
“I really wish your dream of graduating could come true in Italy, little Fatou – concludes Claudio Bolandrini, sharing on Facebook the photo of the flags at half-mast as a sign of mourning on the facade of the town hall – Protect your loved ones from the sky and give them comfort in this terrible moment.”
The Salvagente Italia association, specialized in first aid, also publicly expressed solidarity with the family and is carrying out a campaign against trips to the swimming pool at summer camps because it would not be possible to guarantee the necessary safety measures.
“We are in contact with the family of the girl who drowned. Family for whom we will do everything possible” the president wrote on social media Mirko Damasco, asking for silence and respect because “the family reads dozens of indecent comments. Have a minimum of humanity if she is still there and keep your fingers from writing nonsense.”
Meanwhile, last night in the church of Santa Elisabetta in Caravaggio a rosary was recited in memory of Fatou and many faithful, in addition to being shocked by the death of the little girl, are now worried about Don Andrea Piana, the priest in charge of the Cre who was registered in the register of suspects, as was the lifeguard who was on duty at the water park at the time.
An act ordered by prosecutor Alessandra Cerreti to protect the suspects themselves (to allow their lawyers to participate in the first stages of the investigation), which however aroused the concern of many inhabitants of Caravaggio: “Don Andrea cares about the boys as if they were his children – writes a user on social media – I hope that this bad situation will be resolved as soon as possible”.
