Italy: Newlyweds, 39 Guests Fall 25 Feet As Dance Floor Collapses

On what should have been a joyous occasion, a wedding night in Italy turned into a nightmarish ordeal for a bride, groom, and more than 30 of their guests. The celebration, held at the former Giaccherino convent in Pistoia, Tuscany, took a harrowing turn when a significant portion of the floor collapsed, sending everyone on it plummeting 25 feet to the ground below.

The shocking incident, which occurred on January 13, was captured on video. Guests were seen dancing and jumping in the attic as music filled the air. Suddenly, a massive hole opened up beneath them, and chaos ensued. Gasps and screams echoed through the venue as dozens of individuals, including the newlyweds Paolo Mugnaini and Valerie Ybarra, fell through the floor.

In the initial moments, confusion and fear gripped the groom as he struggled to comprehend the sudden catastrophe. "I had entered a frightening whirlpool and I couldn’t orient myself", he later recounted to a local newspaper.

Mugnaini found himself face-to-face with his best friend, who was injured, adding to the surreal chaos. His concerns deepened when he couldn't immediately locate his wife, Valerie. He started screaming, calling Valerie, his wife. She was unresponsive and she seemed to have disappeared. I feared that she had been buried by the rubble, he said. The situation intensified as the injured and shocked guests grappled with the aftermath of the collapse.

Fortunately, the newlyweds were later photographed holding hands in their hospital beds, pushed together. Mugnaini, receiving IV fluids, described the terrifying experience. Despite the severity of the incident, they were released from the hospital the following day.

The toll on the guests was significant, with 37 people requiring medical treatment. Twenty-eight individuals remained hospitalised the next day, with two in the intensive care unit, including a child. Fortunately, health officials reported that their conditions were not life-threatening. A pregnant woman who fell was being examined by OBGYNs, with both her and her future child expected to survive.

In the aftermath, shock and horror reverberated through the venue. The groom's father, present at the scene, expressed disbelief at the unexpected collapse. Guests, including a waitress named Genny, described a chaotic scene enveloped in dust, making it challenging to grasp the full extent of the disaster. Witnesses recounted screams and desperate cries for help.

Now, Mugnaini and Ybarra are pursuing legal action against the venue, alleging negligence. Local prosecutors are investigating whether the venue failed to ensure safety and complete necessary work to prevent such dangers. The wedding celebration, meant to be a cherished memory, has left a lasting impact of trauma, injuries, and legal ramifications for all involved.