A tragic accident occurred in Fasano, southern Italy, involving a 25-year-old woman who lost her life after plummeting down an elevator shaft in her apartment building. The incident took place in the early morning hours of July 1, 2024 when Clelia Ditano walked into the open elevator doors, unaware that the elevator car was still stationed four floors below.

Ditano fell down the empty shaft, landing on the roof of the stationary elevator on the first floor, as reported by local media. The fall resulted in fatal injuries, leading to her instant death. Her father found her body later that day after dialing her number and hearing the phone ring from inside the elevator shaft.

Emergency services were notified and reached the scene around 8 a.m. An investigation is underway to establish why the elevator doors opened without the elevator car being there. Initial findings point towards a possible failure in the elevator’s safety features that should have prevented the doors from opening when the elevator was not at that level.

Before the fatal accident, Ditano, who worked as a cleaner at various local bed and breakfasts, shared a photo of herself on Instagram dressed in a matching skirt and off-white top, seemingly ready for a night out. On the day of her tragic death, she also uploaded a picture in a black dress with a haunting caption: “Here’s to what’s to come.”

The unexpected tragedy has left Ditano’s friends and family in deep sorrow. A friend, Ilenia, expressed her grief in a tribute: “It wasn’t supposed to go this way. You were supposed to make all your dreams come true, the family you wanted to create, find true love…” Another friend remarked on Ditano’s last Instagram post: “Beautiful and kind, you had a life ahead of you to live.”

Authorities are looking into the malfunction that caused the accident. An investigator stated, “We can assume a malfunction of the locking system because the door should only open when the cabin is on the floor.”

This incident has sparked concerns about the safety measures and maintenance standards of elevators in residential buildings. Friends and family are mourning the loss of Ditano, who was described as a vibrant, lively young woman with a passion for dancing and sports.