Footballer dies after falling into canal while on holiday as police investigate

22 May 2023 , 11:55

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Gabriele Gallani, 24, was set to present his master's thesis at the University of Parma later this month and had been interning at Lamborghini.

Police in the Netherlands have opened an investigation after an Italian footballer died while on holiday in Amsterdam with friends.

Gabriele Gallani, who captained ASD Piccardo Traversetolo, was rescued from a canal on Friday night but was pronounced dead in hospital on Saturday morning.

Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward with any information that they had. They have already started examining CCTV footage of the area where he entered the water.

According to reports in Italian media, Gallani had been with a group of eight friends in the Dutch capital. He was walking behind them in the Kloveniersburgwal district when one friend, Luca Ugolotti, noticed Gallani in the water and in distress.

Police arrived at the scene along with a team of firefighters, two ambulances and a trauma team by air ambulance. The firefighters located Gallani in the water.

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The 24-year-old was scheduled to present a thesis for a master's degree in engineering at the University of Parma next week and had started an internship at Lamborghini.

His club, based near Parma, paid tribute to the Gallani in a statement.

A file image of Kloveniersburgwal, Amsterdam, where the footballer was walking with friends on Friday night. (Getty Images)

“A silent leader on the pitch. An example for his teammates. A guy with a kind and respectful soul. We will carry you forever in our hearts. Bye Gabri," Piccardo Traversetolo said.

"It's hard to find the words for what happened, maybe the right ones are HELLO and THANK YOU but we don't know.

“You arrived when you were a kid, the only thing we can do right now is keep your memory alive within us. Needless to add anything else at the moment. Hello Gallo."

Club owner Luca Prampolini added: "He was strong and had an excellent personality. He knew how to talk and got along with everyone. He didn't drink, smoke or take drugs: he was an athlete and knew how to swim very well."

Alan Smith