Father drowns in Italy's Tagliamento river after swimming with family; one child in critical condition
An Azerbaijani man was swept away by a strong current while swimming with his wife and two young daughters near the A4 viaduct at Ronchis di Latisana. Rescuers saved the mother and both girls, but one daughter remains in very serious condition.
The incident
Around 4 PM on Saturday, 11 July 2026, a family of four entered the Tagliamento river at Ronchis di Latisana, in the province of Udine, near the junction of Friuli Venezia Giulia and Veneto. The man, identified by Adnkronos as an Azerbaijani national, was with his wife and their two young daughters. The spot, below the viaduct of the A4 motorway, is a popular bathing area, but the water that afternoon had a strong current. Within moments, all four were in extreme difficulty, unable to stay afloat. Passersby who saw them struggling called the single emergency number 112, triggering a large rescue operation.
Rescue and search operations
Firefighters from Latisana were the first on scene and managed to pull the wife and both daughters from the water while they were still gasping. The three were handed over to Suem 118 medical staff. One of the daughters, according to initial reports, was in very serious condition. The mother, once safe, alerted the firefighters that her husband was still missing. The search then intensified: the Drago helicopter, dispatched from Venice with two divers on board, scoured the river from above; specialist divers from Venice and Trieste, as well as a rubber boat from the Portogruaro team, worked the water below. The body of the man was found shortly afterward. Carabinieri of the provincial command of Udine confirmed the recovery.
- Deceased
- 1 people
- Critical condition
- 1 people
- Uninjured
- 2 people
The whole operation lasted less than two hours. The alarm was raised shortly before 16:00 and the body was recovered before news of the tragedy broke at around 15:44, according to the first Rai news bulletin.
- Family enters the Tagliamento river for a swim.
- Strong current causes all four to struggle.
- Witnesses near the A4 viaduct report people in difficulty.
- Wife and two young daughters pulled from water; one child in critical condition.
- Helicopter Drago and divers from Venice and Trieste search the river.
- Divers recover the man's body; confirmed dead by Carabinieri.
Victims and survivors
The deceased is a man of Azerbaijani origin. His wife and the two girls were saved, but one daughter's condition remains gravissime, sources from the fire brigade and Suem 118 reported. The other child was apparently unhurt, though under shock. No names were released, in line with privacy rules. The family had come to the river for a summer afternoon, unaware that the current would be so dangerous.
Context and response
The Tagliamento is one of northeastern Italy's major watercourses, and its flow can change rapidly. The spot at Ronchis di Latisana, just under the motorway bridge, is a known recreation point but also subject to insidious currents. The entire stretch from Latisana to the Veneto border remains popular despite the risks. The public prosecutor's office has been informed and may open a routine investigation, though no foul play is suspected.
