Vermicino, the rescuer Moscardini: “the mistake was the spectacle of the media, too many Bearzot”

“We were rescuers and also fathers. The mistake was the spectacle of the media: millions of citizens sitting on the sofa turned into Bearzot. Veltroni wrote in Sette del Corriere della sera, The lost child in a fragile Italy. But if you bring a camera and everyone becomes experts, you risk damaging the intervention “. Piero Moscardini, operator of the operations room of the Rome fire brigade involved in the rescue operations of Alfredino Rampi, the 6-year-old boy who crashed into an artesian well in Vermicino in 1981, talks about it. Moscardini, officer of the Department since 1982 of the Civil Protection, 40 years after the recurrence of the tragedy experienced live by 23 million spectators remembers: “In Vermicino a circus of dwarves and mediums was presented, the information allowed everyone to become technical commissioners”. “The only one to whom respect must be given – he remarks – is Franca, the mother, who, as in a film, did not understand what was happening. She wept in the presence of Pertini who understood the importance of implementing the reform envisaged by Zamberletti , which led to the birth of the Civil Protection. Those who affirmed that this happened thanks to the drama experienced by Franca – says Moscardini – are making a mistake, because the founding father of the Civil Protection was Zamberletti, thanks to the team led by Pastorelli, sole responsible for the operations in Vermicino “. The need for an organization of the national service in all its components, the enhancement of local authorities and volunteering were indispensable points also in view of the introduction of the concept of forecasting and prevention, explains the former firefighter, indicating among the complexities coordination of the skills necessary for the intervention the unexpected collision of the drill drilling the ground to create one of the two tunnels alongside the well, “with the basalt. There was not only tuff and clay as reported by the media. it turned purple from the heat and broke and Pastorelli, responsible for Alfredo Rampi’s rescue operations, – recalls Moscardini – communicated with us via radio from the power station and asked us to find a geo-probe “. Another odyssey:” The drill was on the via Cassia and the machine that was to transport it to Tiburtino Terzo, two opposite poles of Rome. We recovered the parts and transported the tracked vehicle to the place. ade were blocked by people who went to see the ‘show’. The carabinieri hijacked the cars on the meadows …. “. The rest is history:” After the death of little Alfredino, despite the superhuman efforts, the firemen were stoned by the public who attended the operations and were addressed with very heavy names. This speech was broadcast worldwide. People were calling us from everywhere, even from America to make suggestions. The operations room of the Rome command in via Genova went haywire “, while volunteers arrived in Vermicino without any supervision”. (by Roberta Lanzara)