Rabat – Discussions are currently underway in Italy to honor Rahhal Amarri with an Award for Civil Valora, a prestigious award for heroism and bravery. Known as “Said”, Amarri was a 42-year-old Moroccan man who died after rescuing two children from drowning in Italy.
According to local news outlets, two children aged 6 and 7 were swimming at a beach in the Italian commune of Castel Volturno on June 7 but were swept away in the current. After hearing the two children shouting for help, Ammar decided to jump in and save them, even though he did not know how to swim.
With the help of beach lifeguard Francesco Pio Russo, Amarri managed to bring the two children to safety but he was pulled underwater shortly after. Following a search of the area, Amarri’s body was recovered and he was pronounced dead.
The 20-year-old lifeguard, who is also Amarri’s friend, spoke highly of the brave Moroccan man. “His instinct to help others overwhelmed his fear of the sea,” he said.
Pio Russo met Amarri 14 years ago when he came looking for a job at the beach. “He immediately stood out for his good, joyful, and playful character,” Francesco said, adding that “I really lost a piece of my heart.”
Stunned by Amarri’s bravery, Francesco Emilio Borrelli, the regional councilor of the Europa Verde (Green Europe) political party, proposed to honor the deceased Moroccan man.
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Italy’s president Sergio Mattarella was struck by Amarri’s act of heroism. He asked Amarri’s family and friends to provide them with more information regarding Amarri, his life, and the circumstances of the tragic incident, in order to review the proposal.
Roberto Fico, President of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy, paid homage to the soul of the Moroccan man, describing his sacrifice to save the children as “an act of heroism and enormous altruism,” and “a gesture that we cannot forget.”
The Campania region, located in southern Italy, has announced that it will facilitate the repatriation of Amarri’s body to Morocco once the legal investigations have concluded.
Amarri lived in the municipality of Caserta for over 14 years, where he worked as a beach manager, while his wife and three-year-old son lived in Morocco.
