Tragedy came to one of the most beautiful tourist spots in Italy just before midnight on Saturday when an American woman was drowned in the rough sea after saving her son.
49-year-old Anne Sharrie Duncan, a resident of Naples, was standing on the jetty at Positano with her 12-year-old son and a friend when an enormous wave knocked them all off balance and the child fell into the sea. His mother jumped in after him while their friend ran for help. Upsetting cellphone footage captures these moments. Then the owner of the cellphone, realising what was happening, abandoned filming to raise the alarm.
Three coastguards rushed to the scene and Mrs Duncan pushed her son towards them before she was carried further out to sea. The two were brought to the shore but Mrs Duncan was already dead. The boy was taken to hospital and has since been discharged.
Police are looking into the incident because it seems that tourists, overwhelmed by the beauty of their surroundings in the area, often take the risk of venturing out to look at the sea in dangerous conditions. Clearly there is a need for signs warning of the danger and Positano News reports that a local doctor has suggested that a permanent medical station be set up on the beach.
Here's the cellphone footage of the incident - Please note: This video is upsetting.
