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After Walking Six Kilometers in the Snow Due to Lack of Money, 11-Year-Old Boy Turns Drama Into Symbol of National Empathy
The story of an 11-year-old boy who faced six kilometers of snow because he didn’t have money for a bus fare crossed local borders and touched the hearts of many in Italy. The incident, which took place in the province of Belluno, Veneto, had a symbolic outcome: the boy was invited to participate in the opening ceremony of the Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, scheduled for February 6. The information is from Terra.
Boy’s Forced Walk in the Cold
The incident occurred last Tuesday (27), when the boy was returning from school and needed to take a bus between San Vito di Cadore and Vodo di Cadore, two villages separated by six kilometers in a valley in the Dolomites, the mountain range where Cortina d’Ampezzo is located.
Unable to afford the ticket price, he ended up getting off the bus and continued the journey on foot, through the snow.
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The recent increase in fare, which went from 2.5 to 10 euros (from R$ 15.6 to R$ 62.4) due to the Olympic Games, was crucial for the boy not being able to continue his trip.
Upon arriving home, he showed signs of hypothermia, which intensified the outcry across the country.
Invitation to the Boy That Symbolizes Hope
According to information obtained by ANSA, the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation, the organizer of the Olympics, suggested the boy’s participation in the opening ceremony.
The family accepted the invitation “with enthusiasm,” turning pain into a moment of recognition and welcome.
The repercussion also led the province of Belluno to restore the previous ticket price. The company responsible for the line, Dolomiti Bus, suspended the driver involved.
Apology and Reflection
The driver Salvatore Russotto apologized for the incident. “My heart is hurt. Thinking with a cool head, I realize I was wrong. I apologize to the boy and his family,” he stated in an interview with the newspaper Il Gazzettino.
Russotto reported that the boy boarded the bus with a 2.5 euro ticket and was informed that the fare was no longer valid.
According to him, the company instructed drivers to act this way with those who did not have valid tickets, without specific instructions regarding minors.
The incident highlighted not only the vulnerability of a child in the face of administrative decisions but also the capacity for mobilization and empathy of a society that transformed a harsh gesture into a symbol of humanity.
“They didn’t tell us anything about minors, but I am mortified, I made a serious mistake. With a cool head, I would have paid for the ticket myself instead of knowing he was wandering in the snow“, he said.
With information from Terra.
Nao acredito nisso, ja morei na Italia, Véneto, jamais uma criança sería deixada na estrada , e tem onibus escolar ate para quem está na faculdade .
A passagem aumentou em função das olimpíadas (e que aumento – quatro vezes o valor anterior)!!!
Os salários aumentaram também, para que a população pudesse continuar a utilizar os ônibus sem ir à falência?
Tá de zueira né???? Esse tipo de reportagem pode dar engajamento lá fora, mas aqui no Brasil é piada!!! O Brasil está cheio de crianças nos interiores do país com idades inferiores a 11 anos que andam o dobro disso, debaixo de um sol de 40° a sombra , descalços, depois de dias comendo o pão que o diabo amassou ,só pra ir pra escola e alguém vai buscar história do outro lado do mundo pra conseguir engajamento???? Faça-me o favor né???? As histórias daqui são muito mais comoventes e impressionantes!!!!As daqui fazem os daqui e os de lá chorar 1000 vezes!!!