Milano Marittima, July 23, 2026 – “The only thing I think about now is that I want Magdalena home”. These are words that encapsulate an indescribable pain, those spoken by Robert Kaiser, the 55-year-old from Villach, Austria, father of the 4-year-old girl who drowned last Saturday in the pool of the Hotel Continental in Milano Marittima. The man, investigated for abandonment of a minor and assisted by lawyer Simone Balzani, does not want to talk about the investigation. “Being investigated is the last thing on his mind,” explains the lawyer. Devastated by the loss of his daughter, he has always been very cooperative with investigators and experienced the wait for the autopsy as further suffering.
The family has meanwhile returned to Villach. Together with his wife and two other daughters, Kaiser is only waiting for the prosecutor’s clearance, expected in these hours, so that little Magdalena’s body can be transferred to Austria for the last farewell. The hotel’s camera footage is allowing investigators to precisely reconstruct the last minutes of the girl’s life.
Cameras under scrutiny: the girl tried to leave the hotel 3 times
After lunch, in fact, contrary to what emerged initially, the father would never have gone back up to the room. His wife and the other two daughters had gone up to their rooms, while he remained in the dining room. Magdalena had asked him for permission to go play in the game room, located beyond the lobby, on the opposite side from the restaurant, and he had consented. From that moment, the cameras follow the girl’s movements.
The images show that twice the little girl tried to leave the hotel, but the automatic door, equipped with a photocell calibrated for adult height, did not open for her. Magdalena, however, did not give up. On the third attempt, she encountered a guest entering from outside and took the opportunity to slip out. From there, she reached the pool, overlooking IX Traversa.
Read more Salvini in Bologna and the square for Fakir: “Whoever convenes the square must pay for the damages”
While the tragedy unfolds, the father is called back by the hotel
According to the reconstruction, she found the gate open even though access to the pool was forbidden during that time slot, from 1 PM to 3 PM, as indicated by a sign that a four-year-old girl would not have been able to read anyway. Just as the tragedy was unfolding, the father was called back by the hotel owners, dtwo brothers from Cervia, aged 58 and 68, long-time managers of the establishment, for a brief errand outside. He had no idea what was happening. Two young passers-by discovered the little girl in the water, raising the alarm when it was already too late.
Autopsy: Magdalena died from asphyxia by drowning
The autopsy, performed yesterday by forensic pathologist Matteo Tudini, confirmed what was already apparent from the initial findings: Magdalena died from asphyxia by drowning. No injuries attributable to other causes were found on the body. The girl was found face down in the water, wearing a diaper and a pink t-shirt. Transported in desperate conditions to Bufalini Hospital in Cesena, she did not make it.
Meanwhile, the investigation continues. In addition to the father, the two hotel managers are also under investigation for negligent homicide, assisted by lawyer Laerte Cenni. They too, say those who know them, are deeply shocked by what happened in that family-run establishment. The facility includes a main rectangular pool measuring 13 by 6 meters, 1 meter and 52 centimeters deep, and a second children’s pool, 80 centimeters deep: elements that will now be at the center of technical investigations called to shed full light on the tragedy.
Read more «He’s not breathing, his eyes are fixed»: the bodycam video and the last 4 minutes of Fakir’s life
