A body discovered near the eastern Libyan city of Derna is believed to belong to Italian kitesurfer Mimmo Piepoli, who disappeared off the southern coast of Italy more than two months ago, according to Italian media reports.
Italy’s news agency ANSA reported that the body was found on 4 July near Derna, although official confirmation of the victim’s identity remains pending DNA test results.
The 39-year-old sportsman went missing on 1 May while kitesurfing off the coast of Porto Cesareo in Italy’s southern Puglia region.
According to the report, sea currents may have carried the body more than 800 kilometres across the Mediterranean from southern Italy to the Libyan coastline.
Although authorities were unable to identify the body visually, investigators believe it could be Piepoli because the wetsuit and kiteboard found alongside the remains reportedly matched the equipment he was using at the time of his disappearance.
Italian authorities are now awaiting the outcome of forensic examinations to establish the identity conclusively.
Witnesses told investigators that Piepoli had briefly returned to shore on the day he vanished after losing his sail due to strong winds.
He later returned to the water but was subsequently seen struggling in rough seas before disappearing from sight.
Initial local search efforts failed to locate him, prompting Italian authorities to expand the operation to cover an area of approximately 250 square kilometres using aircraft and helicopters operated by the Italian Navy.
The search was later widened with the involvement of authorities in Greece and Albania as hopes of finding the missing kitesurfer alive diminished.
The discovery of the body near Derna could finally bring answers to the family of the missing Italian athlete, pending the results of DNA analysis expected in the coming days.