SICILY, ITALY – A 43-year-old serviceman has died following the injection of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Stefano Paternò, a member of the Italian Navy, died of a heart attack at his home 14 hours after receiving the vaccine. His sudden death on March 8th prompted the Italian medicines agency AIFA to ban the use of one batch of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines.

Prosecutors have opened a probe and have placed around ten people under investigation on suspicion of manslaughter after Paternò’s death. This includes people who were involved in the distribution of the vaccine and the health personnel who injected him.

Caterina Arena, the widow of Stefano, spoke out after the sudden death of her husband:

“My husband was fine. He went to get the vaccine on Monday morning around 10:00 o’clock. He was in favor of the vaccines. ‘Get vaccinated’, he told everyone. He was happy. In the afternoon, around 17:00, he went home. We went to pick up our son from practice. A day like any other.
Then, when we were about to go home, he said he felt chills. He measured his temperature and it was at 39 degrees. He took an aspirin and went to bed. He was calm, he was fine. My husband didn’t suffer from anything.”

She continued:

“In the evening, we went to bed. At around 02:00, I started to hear a strange snore and when I looked at Stefano, he began to stiffen up. His eyes were open, but they were looking into space. I immediately called my brother who lives above us and then 118. We began to do heart massage. After about 15 minutes the ambulance arrived and the doctors intervened to help, but 45 minutes later they said he died.
The evenings after his death are the worst when I’m with my children. They ask me: Mom, why did daddy die? Are you leaving us too?”