Speaking to the Italian newspaper Il Resto del Carlino, the family of the Italian tourist who lost her life on Thursday after being hit by a wave at Poça das Lesmas, in Seixal, is calling for better signage in the area. “The area is very dangerous: it needs to be better signposted or at least help needs to arrive sooner,” they say.
The 28-year-old’s parents, as well as her boyfriend – who traveled to Madeira on Friday – return to Colmurano, Italy, tonight.
In the same newspaper, family members highlight some aspects: “The island is beautiful, but it is behind in terms of security. The natural swimming pools, public and full of tourists, where we were at the time of the accident, are not equipped with adequate signage”, they accuse.
They explain that there is a sign indicating the absence of lifeguards, but there is no signage for the possible occurrence of anomalous and sudden waves. Margherita Salvucci’s sister, Ester, says that “we approached the wall to see the sea below. It doesn’t say that big waves can arrive, we had no way of knowing.”
Meanwhile, the father, Piergiovanni, says that his daughter “ended up in a trap”.
As reported by DIÁRIO, the young woman, as a result of the accident, became unconscious. A member of the public threw himself into the sea to try to save her, and the SANAS vessel from Porto Moniz was immediately activated.
“The people present threw two life jackets with ropes to our daughter. When Margherita fell into the water she was alive, he spoke, swam with all her strength, but was unable to grab the life jackets. She didn’t slip or fall, as far as we could see. From the bar they called a boat with a doctor on board, who arrived around 20 minutes later. Meanwhile Manuel, an angel, [who threw himself into the sea to save her] dived. He says he heard her speak because he understood she was Italian. Margherita fainted when she saw Manuel arrive”, they report to Il Resto del Carlino.
The Italian newspaper reports that after the Italian woman was brought ashore “it took another 40 minutes to be transported to the hospital in Funchal. According to her loved ones, an hour and a half passed from the accident to his arrival at the hospital. The water in the lungs and the cardiac arrest would have been decisive”, it reads.
“What happened must not happen again. We owe it to Margherita,” concludes the mother.
Finally, Il Resto del Carlino reports that it will take some time for the young woman’s body to be transferred. “It could take two or three weeks,” says her mother, adding that some documents need to be translated and that an autopsy will be performed, but the family does not know exactly when this will be done.