A young woman in southern Italy died after falling down an elevator shaft in her apartment building in Fasano. The incident occurred in the early hours of July 1, 2024 when 25-year-old Clelia Ditano pressed the elevator button and walked through the doors when they opened, not realizing that the elevator was still four floors below and had not yet arrived.
According to local media reports, Ditano fell through the empty shaft and landed on the elevator’s roof, which was stationed on the first floor. The impact resulted in her immediate death. Her father discovered her body later that morning after calling her phone and hearing it ring from within the elevator shaft.
Emergency services were alerted and arrived at the scene around 8 a.m. Investigators are currently examining the elevator to determine why the doors opened without the elevator being present. Preliminary findings suggest a malfunction in the elevator’s safety mechanisms that should have prevented the doors from opening if the cabin was not at the floor.
Hours before the accident, Ditano, a cleaner at multiple local bed and breakfasts, posted a photo on Instagram. The image showed her dressed in an off-white top and matching skirt, apparently prepared for a night out. Tragically, she also posted an image in a black dress on the day of her death, with the caption: “Here’s to what’s to come.”
Friends and family have been left heartbroken by the sudden loss. One friend, Ilenia, wrote 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 commented on her last Instagram picture: “Beautiful and kind, you had a life ahead of you to live.”
Authorities are investigating the cause of the malfunction. An investigator noted, “We can assume a malfunction of the locking system because the door should only open when the cabin is on the floor.”
This incident has raised questions about the safety protocols and maintenance standards of elevators in residential buildings.
Ditano’s father is devastated by the loss. Friends and family continue to express their condolences and share memories of Ditano, describing her as a sunny, vibrant young woman who loved dancing and sports.