Two swimmers bitten in the water within three days in two separate incidents in the waters of Cilento, between Pioppi and Palinuro, sustained calf injuries with significant blood loss that required medical attention.
The latest case occurred at Palinuro, in the Saline area, where a 76-year-old man suffered a wound to his calf. A few days earlier in Pioppi, a 55-year-old Swiss tourist had been treated for a similar injury. At Palinuro, the swimmer managed to reach the shore and was assisted by lifeguards on the beach, who provided first aid while waiting for doctors to arrive. The man was then handed over to the local emergency medical station for appropriate treatment.
In Pioppi, a similar case involved a Swiss tourist who sustained a deep wound — also to the calf — with significant blood loss. The man, who is on anticoagulant therapy, was transferred to hospital for the necessary treatment.
The species responsible for the two incidents has not yet been identified. Among the hypotheses under consideration is one involving certain tropical species now increasingly present in the Mediterranean as well, such as the triggerfish and the barracuda, but at this time there is insufficient evidence to attribute the bites with certainty to any specific animal. Further investigations are planned to clarify the matter.
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