The shocking death of 9-year-old Mattia Cossettini during his family's vacation at Marsa Alam, Egypt, has raised serious concerns about the local healthcare system and medical response to emergencies. The tragic incident occurred on January 6, 2025, and autopsy results released on February 22 confirmed the cause of his death was cerebral hemorrhage due to an aneurysm, not the previously suggested brain tumor or bacterial pneumonia.
According to Maria Virginia Maccari, the family's lawyer, the autopsy was conducted by the Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria del Friuli Centrale and definitively excluded the presence of other conditions. This marks a significant departure from the initial medical assessments conducted by local authorities, which had led to much confusion and distress for the family. Maccari stated, "The doctors at the general government hospital misinterpreted the TC scan without intervening on Mattia due to lack of equipment." She emphasized, "They even cited Covid as the cause for low oxygen levels when Mattia didn't even have a cough."
Prior to the incident, Mattia was reported to be enjoying the vacation and had shown no signs of illness. His lawyer noted, "Mattia was very happy with the vacation, and until the tragic boat trip, he hadn't shown any symptoms, not even a cold."
The unfortunate event unfolded during what was meant to be a fun outing on the water. Following Mattia's sudden collapse after returning from the boat trip, his family sought medical assistance from the resort's health center before being referred to the government hospital where the healthcare deficiencies became evident. Maccari explained, "Mattia remained on a hospital stretcher with the resort's room pillow, as his parents tried unsuccessfully to transfer him to another hospital." Unfortunately, the nearest equipped hospital was approximately three hours away by car, illustrating the lack of immediate medical care available in the popular tourist destination.
This incident has illuminated broader issues surrounding health services for tourists, particularly Italians who frequent the region. It is estimated around 15 million Italians visit Egypt each year, with many traveling to the Red Sea area, raising questions about the adequacy of medical responses to emergencies.
Following Mattia's death, his family has called for urgent improvements to healthcare protocols for tourists. Maccari stated, "The first equipped hospital is located about three hours away by car," and suggested the need for immediate changes to the local medical infrastructure. The lawyer advocated for potential investments from local hotels to provide adequate medical services, including possibly establishing helicopter pads for quick patient transfer.
This heartbreaking episode not only reflects upon the reality of medical care available to tourists but also emphasizes the need for awareness of such situations among vacationers. The family hopes their tragedy can serve as the impetus for improvements to the healthcare system to prevent similar incidents for future visitors.
Mattia's parents, Marco and Alessandra, are left grappling with their loss, stressing the importance of higher medical standards to safeguard tourists visiting the beautiful but risky areas of Egypt. Maccari concluded, "Raising awareness about healthcare challenges faced by tourists is necessary for all those unaware of the inefficient medical facilities they may encounter upon leaving the comforts of their resorts."
The bright memories of Mattia’s joyful demeanor during their vacation continue to haunt his family. While they push for accountability and improvements, the weight of sorrow lingers, reminding them of the precious moments cut short due to systemic failure.