In a tragic incident in Fasano, southern Italy, a 25-year-old woman fell to her death down an elevator shaft in her apartment building. The event happened in the early hours of July 1, 2024, when Clelia Ditano pressed the elevator button and stepped through the doors as they opened, unaware that the elevator was still four floors beneath her.
Ditano plummeted down the empty shaft, landing on the roof of the elevator stationed on the first floor, as per local media reports. The impact caused her immediate death. Later that morning, her father found her body after calling her phone and hearing it ring from inside the elevator shaft.
Emergency services were notified and arrived on the scene at approximately 8 a.m. The elevator is currently under inspection by investigators to determine why the doors opened without the elevator being in place. Early findings indicate a possible failure in the elevator’s safety systems, which should have inhibited the doors from opening if the cabin was not at the floor.
Prior to the accident, Ditano, who worked as a cleaner at several local bed and breakfasts, shared a photo on Instagram. The image depicted her dressed in a matching off-white top and skirt, seemingly ready for a night out. On the day she died, she also shared an image of herself in a black dress, with the caption: “Here’s to what’s to come.”
The sudden loss has deeply affected her friends and family. One friend, Ilenia, expressed in a tribute: “It wasn’t supposed to go this way. You were supposed to make all your dreams come true, the family you wanted to create, find true love…” Another friend responded to her last Instagram photo: “Beautiful and kind, you had a life ahead of you to live.”
The authorities are working to determine the cause of the malfunction. An investigator stated, “We can assume a malfunction of the locking system because the door should only open when the cabin is on the floor.”
This fatal incident has sparked concerns about the safety procedures and maintenance standards of lifts in residential buildings.
Ditano’s father is grappling with the loss, while friends and family continue to share their memories of her, painting a picture of a lively, vibrant young woman with a passion for dancing and sports.
