Reggio Emilia, July 20, 2026 – A 55-year-old cyclist who was struck by a sudden illness while riding his bicycle in the Ballotta area of Regnano di Viano was saved by two volunteers. It happened Saturday morning around 9:30, when the 55-year-old felt unwell and fell to the ground while accompanied by other cyclists.
The rescuers revived him with a defibrillator
Emergency services were alerted and Giovanni Scazzeri and Omar Gualandri, both Red Cross volunteers, arrived on the scene. They took a defibrillator and began resuscitation maneuvers. Then the 118 emergency vehicles arrived: the Croce Verde ambulance, the emergency doctor’s car, and the helicopter rescue.
The mayor’s thanks
Viano’s mayor Fabrizio Corti thanked the two citizens: “A huge round of applause and a heart full of gratitude to Giovanni and Omar. Thanks to the Dae Responder app technology and above all to the extraordinary readiness and great heart of these two volunteers, a life was saved. In these cases every second is crucial: thanks to the app’s alert, Giovanni and Omar were able to intervene promptly on site, starting the rescue maneuvers that allowed the cyclist to recover.” The man, after initial care, was taken to the hospital in Reggio under a red code. “The Dae Responder app – Mayor Corti emphasizes – proves to be an extraordinary tool to shorten intervention times. The readiness and preparation of citizens make the difference between life and death. Giovanni and Omar have the thanks of the entire community: they are the finest example of active citizenship and solidarity.”
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Gratitude towards the volunteers
Many have praised the two volunteers. “I was alerted – recounts Omar Gualandri – by the application that notifies people authorized to operate in case of cardiac arrests. I was at home in Viano and I picked up my neighbor volunteer Giovanni Scazzeri by car. We took the defibrillator in Viano and reached the cyclist in five minutes. In these situations speed is essential. The man was unconscious and in cardiac arrest. We revived him and he recovered thanks to the defibrillator.”
