Body found in Libya may be missing Italian kitesurfer Mimmo Piepoli

A body found off the Libyan coast near Benghazi on July 5 may be that of Mimmo Piepoli, the 39-year-old Italian kitesurfer who disappeared on May 1 while kitesurfing off Porto Cesareo in Puglia. The body was discovered with a wetsuit and a kitesurf board that appear to match Piepoli's equipment. Italian authorities are now awaiting DNA confirmation.

Disappearance and search

Piepoli, a married father of two from Erchie in the province of Brindisi, was last seen on May 1 during a kitesurfing session in the Baia Grande of Porto Cesareo, between Torre Chianca and Torre Lapillo. A large-scale search operation involving the Coast Guard, Finance Police, Navy, and numerous naval and air assets, along with volunteers, initially focused on the waters off Porto Cesareo but later expanded across a wider area. Despite weeks of effort, no trace was found, and the hypothesis that central Mediterranean currents had carried the kitesurfer hundreds of kilometres gained traction.

Discovery on the Libyan coast

On July 5, a fisherman alerted authorities to a body found in the sea off the coast of Daryana, east of Benghazi. Libyan media, citing the Maritime Rescue Unit Hatem Belhaj Ali, reported that the body was skeletal, still wearing a wetsuit and attached to a surfboard. The equipment was compatible with what Piepoli typically used. The discovery was also shared by the Scientific Committee for Missing Persons (Comitato Scientifico Ricerca Scomparsi OdV) on Facebook.

From an initial analysis, the body, which was still wearing a wetsuit and was anchored to its surfboard, led to the assumption that it could have come from Europe. Immediately, some attentive readers of our official page took action to try to understand who it might be, arriving at the profile we had published and our contact number.

The committee added that it contacted Piepoli's wife directly to inform her of the possible connection, sparing her from learning the news through social media or the press.

Identification underway

The Italian consulate general in Benghazi is coordinating with Libyan authorities to identify the body. A formal request for a DNA test has been made, and DNA from Piepoli's mother has been taken for comparison. The body has been transferred to a hospital for legal and medical procedures. The consulate is also following procedures for the possible repatriation of the remains if the identity is confirmed.

Official response

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani asked the Farnesina to maintain constant contact with Piepoli's family and with the mayor of Erchie, Giuseppe Margheriti. The Carabinieri of Erchie are also involved, and the committee expressed hope for a swift, albeit painful, confirmation for the family. The committee also worked to prevent the spread of images that would not be respectful of Piepoli's memory.