Unspeakable grief has gripped the town of Bagheria in Sicily following the death of 20-year-old Simona Chinà, who was found dead in a private villa’s swimming pool during a graduation party. The young woman, well-known in the volleyball community, was discovered unconscious on Friday night, submerged in the water, in a scene that has shocked both the local community and the sports environment she belonged to.
Sicily: 20-year-old athlete found dead in swimming pool
According to reports, Chinà was known and beloved in the volleyball community, where she played until last year with the Acds Capacense team. According to initial evidence, she allegedly fell into the pool and was unable to get out, with rescuers only confirming her death when they arrived at the scene. Her team’s president, Paolo Di Maggio, spoke emotionally about the 20-year-old, emphasizing that she was a smiling girl, dedicated to sports and particularly beloved in the community: “She loved volleyball, she even taught young children. Her loss has devastated us.”
Many questions arise from autopsy of 20-year-old in Sicily
Following the tragedy, an autopsy was ordered. However, as stated by the family’s lawyer, Gabriele Giambrone, there are many unanswered questions. The lawyer argues that for quite some time, no one noticed the dead girl’s presence in the water, despite the pool being small and the villa full of people. Additionally, Simona’s body position when discovered is inconsistent with falling into the water.
As he reported, her parents were not notified by anyone about their daughter’s condition, and when they called her mobile phone, a stranger answered telling them that “Simona is not well.” When they arrived at the villa, they found her dead. Her best friend had left the party an hour earlier, at 3:00 AM. This gap in the timeline of events raises intense questions about what transpired. Giambrone is demanding an urgent autopsy, noting that when he arrived at the villa early in the morning, dozens of young people were still there waiting to give statements.
“Nobody saw anything – Simona never drank“
“Nobody saw anything, while some were still wet from the pool. How is it possible they didn’t notice anything?” he wondered, adding that the residence was “excessively clean” and there were no traces of alcohol. “Simona never drank – she was meticulous about her diet. What happened that night?” the lawyer questioned. Meanwhile, authorities took a DNA sample from a young man who allegedly injured himself, according to his account, when he kicked something in shock upon learning about the incident. Blood traces were found at the scene, which are being examined.
