A damning safety report has revealed that the bodies of Italian divers who died in a recent underwater operation were not equipped with the best available gear. The rescuer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the divers were using substandard equipment that may have contributed to their deaths.
The report, published by the Italian Maritime Safety Authority, highlights a catalogue of failures. It states that the divers were not wearing dry suits with integrated heating systems, which are considered essential for prolonged cold-water operations. Instead, they wore standard wetsuits that offered insufficient thermal protection. The report also notes that their rebreathers were outdated models prone to malfunction in deep water.
"Equipment should have been upgraded years ago," said the rescuer. "We are talking about men's lives. The cost of proper gear is nothing compared to the cost of a family losing a father."
The findings have sparked outrage among diving unions and safety campaigners. They accuse the company contracted for the operation of prioritising profit over safety. The company declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
Family members of the deceased divers have demanded a full inquiry and compensation. "They went to work and never came back. We want justice," said Maria Rossi, widow of one of the divers.
The report recommends immediate procurement of modern equipment and mandatory safety drills. But for the families, it comes too late.
This tragedy underscores a wider truth: in too many workplaces, from North Sea rigs to Milanese factories, cost-cutting endangers lives. The price of bread may be high, but the cost of a life is infinite.
