Mum , dad and son boiled alive in volcano crater fall

Parents perish trying to save their boy, 11

A BOY and his parents died when they plunged into a sinkhole in a volcanic crater full of boiling mud and poisonous gas.

The 11-year-old lad is believed to have strayed beyond safety barriers and was swallowed up by the pit.

His dad rushed to save him but the ground is thought to have collapsed further and he also fell into the hole, which is at least 5ft deep.

The mum then tried to help but suffered the same fate.

Authorities believe the family – Massimiliano Carrer, 45, wife Tiziana Zampella, 42, and son Lorenzo – were boiled alive in the mud or killed by sulphurous fumes.

The couple’s other son, seven, who was unhurt at the Solfatara crater in Italy, watched helplessly before sprinting off to beg passers-by for help.

A witness Diego Vitagliano said: “I saw a child run, crying. I did not think I was facing the worst tragedy of my life.

“Along with other visitors we realised that something had happened and we approached the crater.

“I did not imagine what I would witness. They pulled out two bodies at first, then pulled us away. I continue to think about that family and that poor child crying and asking for help.”

The area where the family died is known for a rare type of quicksand, leaving the ground prone to crumbling.

Cause of death will be determined by postmortems. Rescuers pulled three bodies from the dormant volcano after the tragedy at around 11am yesterday.

Fire brigade spokesman Luca Cari said: “Either there was a small explosion, or the ground simply gave way from their weight, and they fell into this hole. It was inside a fenced-off area.”

The family, from the town of Meolo, near Venice, were on holiday when they visited the shallow crater in Pozzuoli close to Naples.

Local mayor Vincenzo Figliolia said he was “very upset” by the deaths. He added: “‘I express my condolences from Pozzuoli to the family of the victims.”

Water vapours of 160C and gases including poisonous hydrogen sulphide are emitted from the ground at the site.

The tourist attraction, known as the Solfatara di Pozzuoli, is one of around 40 volcanos in the Campi Flegrei region.

The family were killed at what the ancient Romans called the home of Vulcan, the god of fire.