Teenage rugby player found dead in canal after heartbreaking final text to his mum
Dario Cipullo had said goodbye to his parents and gone to a flat for dinner with his rugby team-mates on Friday night before going missing in Novara, Italy.
Claire Schofield, Will Jenkins and Will Schofield 17:30, 22 Dec 2025
View 2 ImagesDario Cipullo was found dead in a canal.(Image: Jam Press)
A teenage rugby[1] player was discovered dead in a canal following a heartbreaking final conversation with his mother and a distressing voicemail left for one of his friends.
Sixteen-year-old Dario Cipullo had bid farewell to his parents before heading to a flat for a team dinner with his rugby mates on Friday evening (December 19). "Don't wait up for me, I'll be late," he informed his mum.
The players' Christmas[2] meal wrapped up around 1am, after which Dario vanished, sparking a search operation in Novara, which is close to the city of Milan in Italy. On Sunday (December 21) at approximately midday - once the fog had cleared - that hunt came to an end when a fire service helicopter spotted the Novega Rugby U18 player's body floating in a waterway.
Officers are now questioning witnesses to piece together the youngster's final moments.
Early accounts indicate Dario had one drink too many during the evening meal, as had several of his team-mates.
A friend's father gave him a lift home, but he asked to get out roughly 40m from his residence. Before his mobile cut out, he allegedly left a voice message for a friend, although it was almost incomprehensible.
Investigators suspect the most probable scenario he lost his footing and drowned, according to NeedToKnow. A post-mortem examination was due to take place today, (Monday, December 22), to establish whether Dario died from drowning or other factors.
View 2 ImagesDario Cipullo played for Novega Rugby Under-18s.(Image: Jam Press)
The driver who dropped him off informed police Dario specifically requested to be let out just before reaching his home.
Prosecutor Giuseppe Ferrando stated: "It is all still premature, and at this stage there are no suspects."
Dario's parents raised the alarm after growing worried when his mobile telephone was cut off, just before 2am on Saturday. His devastated mother, Lorena, explained: "He never does that."
The location where he was discovered - close to a motorway junction - lies approximately 2.5 miles from where he had been left in Novara. Several witnesses claimed to have spotted him heading towards the motorway during the evening.
Family friend Marina Chiarelli, speaking for Dario's parents, said: "We're all trying to understand what happened, but what seems clear is that this was not a deliberate act.
"What is unclear is why Dario ended up at that exact spot.
No-one can explain it."
The teenager attended a technical secondary school[3] and represented the Under-18 squad for Rugby NoVeGa Club.
Sergio Manto from the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) honoured the youngster, saying: "Dario, just sixteen-years-old, leaves an immense void.
"Not only for those who knew and loved him, but for the entire rugby community.
Which today mourns a boy who embodied the truest values of our sport: respect, commitment, passion, and a sense of belonging."
The Amatori Rugby Novara club wrote on Facebook[4]: "We like to believe, that Dario is cheering us on and watching us from up there, along with the other friends who passed the ball."
Article continues belowOn Sunday evening, meanwhile, prior to the Serie C football match between Novara FC and Ospitaletto - at Piola stadium in Novara - a minute's silence was also held in honour of Dario.