Newlywed Couple’s Venice Boat Crash Ends in Tragedy as Pregnant Wife Is Found Dead

A newlywed couple’s trip through the Venice Lagoon ended in tragedy after their small boat collided with a water taxi, leaving both husband and wife dead just three months after their wedding.

Sean Michieli, 25, and his wife, Gabriela Querino, 26, had been married in Venice in June. The couple was traveling by boat in the early hours of September 12, reportedly heading out from Burano to search for fishing bait when their vessel collided with a water taxi in the Tessera Canal.

The impact sent the couple into the water and caused their small boat to sink. Sean was pulled from the lagoon and rushed to Angelo Hospital in Mestre with severe head injuries. He underwent surgery, but doctors later determined that he had suffered brain death. He died on September 13.

Gabriela initially remained missing, prompting an extensive search involving firefighters, divers, police, helicopters and other rescue teams. Her personal belongings were recovered from the water, supporting investigators’ belief that she had been aboard the boat at the time of the collision.

After several days of searching, Gabriela’s body was found in the Venice Lagoon on September 15, bringing a devastating end to the search for the 26-year-old. Reports identified her as Brazilian and said she had been living in Italy for several years.

The tragedy has drawn particular attention because the couple had only recently begun their married life. Gabriela was also reportedly pregnant with the couple’s first child, according to reports.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision. Prosecutors have opened an investigation into possible nautical homicide, while investigators work to reconstruct what happened in the canal. Darkness, limited visibility and the speed of the water taxi have been among the factors being examined.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities examine the boats and available evidence to determine how the fatal collision occurred.

Source: People.com