Deadly Christmas: Tragic Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Cefalù

A peaceful vacation in beautiful Cefalù turned tragic for a German family, echoing a previous incident from August 2016 in Trapani where a Tuscan tourist met a similar fate. These events underscore the critical importance of safety standards in accommodation facilities.

A Tragic New Year The tragedy unfolded on the night between Sunday and Monday when 36-year-old Jonathan Feierabend, a skilled aircraft mechanic, died from carbon monoxide poisoning. He was with his family: Patrizia Pargmann, a 60-year-old head nurse; Elmo Pargmann, a 63-year-old retiree; and his 34-year-old sister Katharina. The family from Nordenham, a town of 25,000 in Lower Saxony, had chosen to spend the end of the year in the renowned Sicilian town. Katharina Feierabend, the most severely affected survivor, has been extubated and is responding well to treatment, her condition gradually improving, offering a glimmer of hope after the dramatic incident.

Ongoing Investigations Led by Francesco Virga of the Cefalù police station and coordinated by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Termini Imerese under Ambrogio Cartosio, the investigation is focused on determining responsibilities and reconstructing the accident's dynamics. The deadly "silent killer" gas, carbon monoxide, appears to have leaked from a chimney defect in the villa. Authorities are also investigating whether the villa had the required safety measures, such as a carbon monoxide detector, mandated for all hospitality structures from November 2024. Although the property’s AirBnB listing mentioned a detector, it remains unclear whether it was operational or malfunctioned.

Owner's Devastation Carmelina Ricciardello, the owner of Villa Deodata, was in Tuscany when the tragedy occurred. Returning immediately to Sicily, she expressed shock and disbelief about the event. "The property has always complied with all necessary certifications," she emphasized, noting that the villa had consistently received positive reviews from guests. Ricciardello has pledged full cooperation with authorities to clarify the circumstances.

Previous Incident in Trapani Unfortunately, this is not the first time a tourist has died from carbon monoxide poisoning in Sicily. In 2016, a young man died in Trapani while staying at the Orchidea Bed and Breakfast. The carbon monoxide emissions from a bakery's flue on the building's ground floor were to blame.

In the room with Fabio Maccheroni, 43, and his friend Alessio Menicucci, it was Maccheroni who succumbed to the gas. His friend survived after a lengthy coma. Years later, the operators of the bed and breakfast, the building owner, and the bakery owner were found liable for the tourist's death. In 2021, the Trapani court sentenced Benedetta Serafico, the 56-year-old Orchidea owner, to three years and three months, while Bartolomeo Altese, 37, the bakery owner, and Tuzza Augugliaro, 78, the building owner, each received three-year sentences.

The Cefalù incident has reignited the discussion on the necessity of carbon monoxide detectors, a simple device that can indeed be life-saving.