A 24-year-old Romanian man died in Italy after being struck by a tree felled by his uncle

Vasile Florian Simon, a 24-year-old Romanian who had gone to Italy for work, died in September 2024 after being struck in the head by a tree felled by his own uncle in a forest in Val di Fiemme. The case ended with a suspended sentence and €1 million in compensation for the victim’s family, according to Corriere del Trentino.

The accident occurred on September 19, 2024, approximately two weeks after the young man arrived in Italy. He worked in logging for a company in Cavalese alongside his 52-year-old uncle. On the morning of the tragedy, the two were in a forested area of Val di Fiemme. The young man was cutting down a tree while his uncle was attempting to fell a spruce approximately 35–40 metres tall.

The tree fell on the young man, seriously injuring him in the head. Mountain rescue personnel, firefighters and medical crews responded, including by helicopter, but resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.

An investigation by the Carabinieri and labour inspectors found that the uncle had not checked whether anyone else was nearby, despite having been instructed by his employer. He was charged with manslaughter and, following a plea agreement, sentenced to 10 months and 20 days in prison, suspended.

The company’s insurance paid €1 million to the victim’s father and his ten brothers and sisters. The young man’s body was transported to Transylvania.