Mattia Debertolis was found unconscious during the middle distance race in the World Games on Friday. He received quick care at the hospital, but passed away on Tuesday.
”It is incredibly tragic that we have lost a fine orienteering friend. We in the Swedish team traveled with the same bus and talked to Mattia before the middle distance and now this morning we were met with the message that he is no longer with us. It feels unimaginable”, says national team manager Håkan Carlsson in a statement to TT.
Debertolis competed for the Italian national team and participated in several World Championships and the World Cup. He lived in Stockholm where he studied and was also active in IFK Lidingö. On its website, the orienteering club writes that it is ”a day of sorrow” as ”our loyal teammate has left us”.
”Our thoughts go to his closest relatives in Primiero, his colleagues at KTH and friends and comrades on the island”, writes IFK Lidingö SOK.
Mattia Debertolis became 29 years old.
”I cannot describe in words the unimaginable sorrow over this tragic loss. Our thoughts go to all who mourn Mattia. I urge the global orienteering community to honor his memory”, says the President of the International Orienteering Federation Tom Hollowell in a statement.
