A nine-year-old lad died after collapsing in front of his family as they enjoyed a boat trip on their holiday.
Mattia Cossettini, his younger brother, and their parents were three days into their break when the horror unfolded.
The family-of-four were on a boat trip when Mattia suddenly collapsed and fainted on Sunday (5th Jan) afternoon.
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When he came to, he complained of a severe headache.
His worried parents took him to the medical staff at the resort where they were staying for the week.
After being diagnosed with heatstroke, Mattia was placed on an IV drip.
He was given various medications and was later sent to his room.
However, his condition worsened during the night and he had to be taken to a hospital.
Tragically, his heart stopped beating in the early hours of yesterday (6 Jan).
His devastated dad, Marco, told the media in his native Italy: “Mattia had gone into a coma.
“We’re waiting to understand more.”
It’s currently suspected that the schoolboy – who’d turned nine on 23 December – died from a brain bleed.
Marco, 41, said: “My son has always been in great health. I can only say that he was perfectly fine until he fainted.”
The family had flown to Marsa Alam, Egypt, on Thursday (2 Jan) to spend their Christmas holidays in warmer climes.
Highs of 27°C (81°F) were recorded on the day Mattia fainted.
The family were due to return to their home in Borgo di Laipacco near Udine, Italy, this Thursday (9 Jan).
The Egyptian authorities have opened an investigation into the case, as reported by Need To Know.
Marco has blasted the facility where his son was treated as “a hospital in the loosest sense of the word”.
He added: “Quite a bit of time was lost before they intervened.”
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