Father dies after punch on Fossacesia seafront while defending son in fight
Diomede Barchiesi, a 50-year-old from Lanciano, was declared dead on 14 August at Pescara hospital, five days after an 18-year-old punched him on the Fossacesia seafront as he tried to shield his son during a brawl.
The incident
In the early hours of 9 August, Diomede Barchiesi, a 50-year-old resident of Lanciano and Stellantis employee, intervened in a fight involving his 18-year-old son on the lungomare of Fossacesia, in the province of Chieti. The argument had broken out between his son and other young people around 4 AM. Barchiesi stepped in to protect his son and was struck by a punch to the face. The blow caused him to fall and hit his head on the ground, producing severe brain injuries. He was first treated by a 118 ambulance crew from Atessa, then rushed to hospital, where he was intubated and later transferred to the intensive care unit at Pescara hospital. He underwent neurosurgery, but his conditions remained desperate from the outset.
Medical course and death
Barchiesi stayed in intensive care from 9 August without improvement. On the morning of 14 August, doctors at Pescara hospital began the legal procedure for certifying brain death. The ASL of Pescara issued a statement confirming that the observation period required for ascertaining cerebral death had concluded and that the medical board had declared the patient deceased. The health authority expressed closeness to the family in their moment of profound grief.
- Barchiesi punched on Fossacesia seafront around 4 AM while defending his son
- Rushed to hospital, intubated, transferred to Pescara ICU after neurosurgery
- Brain death certification process begins at Pescara hospital
- Death certified by medical board after legally required observation period
The investigation
The carabinieri of Fossacesia identified the attacker as an 18-year-old with no prior criminal record. Il Giornale reports he is a resident of Fossacesia, while Open describes him as from Lanciano. According to il Giornale, the young man practices martial arts disciplines including MMA. He was initially investigated for aggravated assault, but the charge is expected to change to involuntary homicide, or possibly voluntary homicide if the use of martial arts techniques is confirmed. The case is coordinated by the prosecutor's office of Lanciano, with prosecutor Elena Belvederesi handling the file. Adnkronos gives the attacker's age as 19 rather than 18 and reports that Barchiesi had intervened only verbally before being struck.
Community reaction
The news prompted mourning across several communities in the Chieti area. The mayor of Fossacesia, Enrico Di Giuseppantonio, suspended music, performances, and entertainment activities in local venues, squares, and beach establishments on the evening of 14 August as a sign of closeness to the family. The mayor of Atessa, Giulio Borrelli, wrote on social media about the tragedy.
Dying from a blow to the face, received while intervening to break up a fight among very young people and protect one's own children, is a tragedy that leaves us stunned and without words.
The mayor of Altino, Vincenzo Muratelli, posted a personal tribute recalling Barchiesi's passion for cycling and football, calling him a loyal and sincere friend.
Legal defence
Lawyers for the 18-year-old released a joint video asking the public to avoid what they called an unsustainable climate of preemptive guilt. They expressed closeness to Barchiesi and his family, saying their only thought and hope went to the person fighting for his life, and describing the situation as a tragedy involving two totally destroyed families.
