Minerva Pictures International

On June 10, 1981, six-year-old Alfredo Rampi fell into an uncovered artesian well in Vermicino, on the outskirts of Rome. The police and rescue teams quickly understood the gravity of the situation: the well was 80 meters deep, and Alfredo had become trapped 36 meters down, in a narrow shaft that was extremely difficult to access, especially given the limited resources of the time. After three days of relentless efforts, Alfredo could not be saved, leaving his parents, Franca and Ferdinando, the then President of Italy, Sandro Pertini—who had come to the scene—and the entire nation in shock and grief. This tragic event had a profound impact on Italian media and public opinion, highlighting the country’s need for improved emergency response.