A security guard working near a Winter Olympics stadium has tragically ‘frozen to death’ after suffering a heart attack just weeks before the games
A security guard working near a Winter Olympics stadium has reportedly frozen to death after suffering a heart attack in the bitter temperatures.
Pietro Zantonini, 55, was working a night shift at a construction site in the Italian Alps resort town of Cortina d’Ampezzo when he collapsed at approximately 2am in the -12C weather last Thursday, reports local media.
The Brindisi native was working a 12-hour shift for a private contractor when the tragedy occurred. Zantonini had to leave his heated cabin post every two hours and conduct searches of the site, which is located near the Olympic ice arena.
However, before heading out on his 2am surveillance, Zantonini had reportedly informed his colleagues he was feeling unwell. He is then believed to have died shortly after he went outside.
Opening investigations say that he suffered a heart attack and collapsed in the snow. Paramedics attended the scene and performed CPR but Zantonini was unable to be saved.
Andrea Varnier, CEO of the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, told reporters: “The information we have is that it was a death by natural cause, it was a heart attack. And we are investigating.”
Italy’s Infrastructure Minister, Matteo Salvini, has also called for a “full and rigorous investigation” into Zantonini’s death, insisting that Italy must treat the safety of employers as top priority.
Cortina officials added they were “deeply saddened and troubled by the death”. The town will co-host the Winter Olympics with Milan, which gets underway in just four weeks.
The Alps resort town will host curling, sliding and women’s Alpine skiing between February 6 and February 22.
Construction has been a major source of concern ahead of the games’ start after officials admitted in November there is “no Plan B” amid fears that a hockey arena may not be completed on time.
Organisers say that construction on the 16,000-seater Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena is going down to the wire, but they remain confident the venue will be ready in time for the preliminary round of the women’s hockey on Thursday, February 5.
The men’s competition will start on February 11 and end on the final day of the Olympics on February 22.