The mystery behind an Italian man who has been missing for more than two months may have been solved. Photo: Mimmo Piepoli//Facebook
Two months after a 39-year-old kitesurfer went missing in southern Italy, it appears that his body has washed ashore more than 500 miles away on the beaches of Libya.
An article in the Italian outlet ANSA states that the body was discovered in the town of Daryana, Libya on July 4. While the body is beyond recognition, the wetsuit and board appear to match those used by the missing kitesurfer, Mimmo Piepoli. Confirmation of the corpse’s identity is pending DNA tests.
Piepoli was last seen surfing on May 1 in the town of Porto Cesareo in Puglia, Italy. Eyewitnesses said he had returned to shore once to switch out a sail he lost in the strong winds, and later was seen struggling in the surf before disappearing.
After local searches failed to find Piepoli, the search was broadened to 250 square kilometers with aircraft and a Navy helicopter. Later, they extended the area farther, including authorities from Greece and Albania in the search.
Piepoli leaves behind a wife and two children.
