Modena, July 13, 2026 – The excellence of Modena shone in the heart of Trieste, turning an institutional visit into an act of pure heroism. It is a story that speaks of readiness, discipline, and above all a deep sense of duty, featuring some soldiers from the Modena Academy, who intervened today to save the life of a man trapped in a car that ended up in the waters of the port of Trieste.
A car suddenly plunged into the pier
Everything happened in a matter of minutes, around 12:15. A group of first-year cadets from the Modena Academy, engaged in a training activity in the province of Pordenone, had arrived at Piazza Unità d’Italia for a visit to the Julian city. While the soldiers were getting off the buses, the scene changed dramatically: before the stunned eyes of those present, a car suddenly plunged into the waters from the pier. Faced with imminent danger, with the vehicle taking on water and the driver trapped inside, there was no room for hesitation.
The soldiers, disregarding the risk, jumped into the water and saved the man
The commanding officers and non-commissioned officers present put into practice the values they teach every day within the walls of Palazzo Ducale, in Modena. Disregarding the risk, they jumped into the water, reaching the vehicle before it could sink completely. The intervention, carried out with extreme clarity and coordination, involved Lieutenant Gabriele De Giuseppe, Captains Piergiorgio Andreucci, Alberto Esposto, and Carmelo Opromolla, supported by Sergeants Danilo Carta and Emanuele Caramello. Together, the six soldiers managed to force open the car cabin and extract the man, bringing him safely to the quay while waiting for the 118 emergency services.
“For the cadets, who witnessed the scene, the day will remain an indelible lesson”
“The sense of duty, preparation, and decisiveness are foundational values in the training of Italian Army officers,” reads the official statement issued by the institution. Words that find concrete confirmation in this act, which goes far beyond military service: it is a demonstration of humanity that fills Modena with pride. For the cadets, who witnessed the scene, the day will remain an indelible lesson: the practical demonstration that training is not only for managing tactical maneuvers but also to know how to intervene courageously where human life is in danger. While the Trieste Carabinieri continue their investigations to clarify the dynamics of the accident, the city of Trieste has expressed its solidarity with the soldiers.
Minister Crosetto: “Proud of them”
For Modena, the episode represents an additional honor for the Academy: the sign that, even far from home, those who wear that uniform know how to be an irreplaceable point of reference for the community. “Their courage, preparation, and sense of duty make the entire Defense proud – wrote Minister Guido Crosetto in a social post –. They acted instinctively, putting their own lives at the service of another person. This is the truest meaning of being a soldier: serving the country and protecting human life, always, even when duty does not require it. Thank you.”
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