Ref to the rescue!
Saved two in Sicily
Referees have been accused of killing a game or blowing game to death, but an Italian referee has been honoured for rescuing two young children from drowning off a Sicilian beach.
Antonio Zambonelli, the referees' president in Catania, and Angelo Cappello, both former players and referees, went down to the beach at Sciacca in the morning to mark out a "field" for beach rugby on 23 August last year. They also saved two brothers.
Mauro and Mirko Cutroneo, twelve-year-old twins, were in difficulties when the two refereeS saved them. Last week Zambonelli were honoured by the mayor of the commune of Mascalucia, Salvatore Maugeri.
The mayor said: "Sometimes our beloved sea can spring a loving surprise. This was the experience of Mauro and Mirko in the blue waters of Sciacca when they were in serious danger of drowning. The timely and brave intervention of Mr Antonio Zambonelli, diving in without hesitation or concern for his own life but intent only on saving the lives of the two boys. For this reason and in a great spirit of neighbourly love, the commune of Mascalucia pays tribute to its fellow citizen Antonio Zambonelli for saving two young boys from a certain death."
