Italian Cheesemaker Crushed to Death by Rounds of Cheese in Factory Accident
ROME – In a tragic incident, Italian cheesemaker Giacomo Chiapparini passed away on Sunday after being crushed by thousands of rounds of Grana Padano cheese in the aging room of his factory in Bergamo, northern Italy. Local authorities have confirmed the unfortunate accident.
The incident occurred when Chiapparini, 74, entered the aging room to inspect the automatic robot responsible for cleaning the cheese rounds during the aging process. According to the Bergamo Carabinieri, it was at this moment that the accident took place.
At the time of the incident, the aging room contained approximately 10 corridors filled with floor-to-ceiling shelves, each holding around 1,600 rounds of cheese. The exact cause of the initial collapse that led to the “domino effect” and resulted in Chiapparini’s demise remains unclear.
Upon receiving the emergency call at around 9 p.m. local time on Sunday, authorities, including the Carabinieri officials, fire brigade, and two ambulance services, rushed to the scene. Despite their efforts, it took over 11 hours to locate and recover Chiapparini’s body, which was buried under the massive piles of cheese rounds.
The Carabinieri spokesperson confirmed that Chiapparini was identified by his family, who reside and work in the cheese factory. The funeral for the renowned cheesemaker will be held on Thursday.
Chiapparini’s factory, established in the late 1970s, produces an impressive 15,000 wheels of Grana Padano cheese annually. The company exclusively uses milk from cows raised on-site for the production process, and the cheese ages for a period ranging from 12 to 70 months.
The tragic accident has shocked the local community and the wider Italian cheese industry, which greatly values the craftsmanship and dedication of its artisans. The incident serves as a reminder of the potential risks involved in the production and aging of such perishable goods.
Authorities will now conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading up to the accident, aiming to determine any lapses in safety protocols or equipment malfunctions. The findings of the investigation will provide crucial insights to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.