The family’s 55-year-old father remains in hospital after eating Christmas dinner while an 18-year-old is currently being monitored by medics following the meal
13:34, 29 Dec 2025Updated 15:47, 29 Dec 2025
Antonella Di Ielsi and her daughter died after eating ‘contaminated’ Christmas dinner
A woman and her 15-year-old daughter have died after reportedly eating a “contaminated” Christmas dinner. The pair are said to have died within hours of each other after eating the dinner with their family.
Antonella Di Ielsi, 50, and 15-year-old Sara Di Vita appear to have eaten fish, mussels and mushrooms during the dinner in Pietracatella, Italy. Authorities believe they later developed fulminant hepatitis – liver failure – after contracting food poisoning.
Shortly after eating the meal the mother and daughter developed symptoms including nausea and abdominal pain. Sara was taken to the emergency room twice before being sent home by medics.
Her condition deteriorated and she died in Cardarelli Hospital at 11pm on Saturday. Antonella was taken to hospital shortly after when she developed the same symptoms.
Vincenzo Cuzzone, from Cardarelli Hospital told Il Messaggero: “The clinical picture took a truly rare turn, which quickly led to death, despite the care we provided.
The pair are said to have eaten fish, mussels and mushrooms (Image: Getty Images)
“They began to show these symptoms after a meal, but this is fragmentary information gathered from family members who were in shock.”
The doctor says Sara presented with “generic symptoms” when she arrived at hospital. Although he says that the “rapid and sudden progression” of the condition meant they decided to hospitalise Antonella as a precaution.
He added: “After her death, and given the rapid and sudden progression of events, we asked the family to bring her mother to the hospital as well, since relatives reported that she was suffering from the same symptoms. We tried to stay ahead of the curve, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.”
Ganni Di Vita, 55, the father of the family, is said to have developed the same symptoms, reports La Parisien. He was transferred to the intensive care unit at Spallanzani Hospital in Rome, where he remains.
The couple’s 18-year-old daughter is being monitored closely. The doctor added: “It seems that she did not have dinner with them that evening.”
The police took food samples from the home, including tinned food and fresh produce to try and determine which dish could have poisoned the family. The public prosecutor’s office has also launched an investigation, ordering autopsies to be carried out.
The woman and her daughter were taken to Cardarelli Hospital(Image: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images)
Village mayor Antonio Tommasone said: “We are devastated. This is a tragedy that leaves us speechless. The village is in disbelief at such a tragedy. I offer my condolences and those of the entire community.”
Local villagers held a vigil at the hospital following the deaths while Christmas events were cancelled. According to Il Messaggero, five doctors from Cardarelli Hospital in Campobasso are under investigation for manslaughter.
Prosecutor Nicola D’Angelo says the investigation will examine possible negligence, attempt to find out what poisoned the pair, and “ensure that no other citizens are involved in a tragedy of this nature”.
Dining and Cooking