Twin Brothers Electrocuted to Death While Trying to Rescue Pigeon Perched on Power Line

Two 22-year-old twin brothers died after being electrocuted while attempting to retrieve a pigeon from overhead power lines in rural Italy.

Giacomo and Francesco Fierloni were in the La Goga area near Magione on Tuesday, April 21, when the incident occurred at a family-owned rural property. The pair had gone to the site to train decoy birds, a shared activity they regularly practiced.

According to investigators, a pigeon had landed on medium-voltage cables carrying approximately 20,000 volts, about 10 metres above ground. One of the brothers used a long metal pole to try to reach the bird. The pole is commonly used in hunting activities.

Authorities believe the pole either made direct contact with the live wire or came close enough for electricity to arc. One brother was fatally shocked almost immediately.

The second twin is believed to have rushed to assist him and was also struck by electricity shortly afterwards. Both died at the scene within moments of each other.

Their bodies were later found lying together in tall grass beneath an embankment near the hut.

The alarm was raised after the brothers stopped responding to phone calls. Earlier that evening, they had told their father they would return home late. Family members later tracked their phones and located them in the area. Their uncle found them shortly before midnight.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene but were unable to revive either of them.

The deaths have deeply affected the local community. The twins worked in their family’s plumbing and heating business and were described by local officials and former teachers as hardworking and well-liked.

Tributes shared on social media described them as inseparable and strongly connected to their family and interests.

Their parents said: “They were our strength, our present and our future. They were born together and together they left.”

Authorities are continuing to investigate the exact sequence of events leading to the incident.