Received €800,000 in compensation following the tragedy in 2019. “In seven years, no one has apologized,” says the Italian cross-country skiing profile.

Former Italian national team skier Marina Piller lost her daughter Viola during childbirth at the hospital in Tolmezzo on July 10, 2019. 

Now, seven years later, a civil court in Udine has determined that the baby died from oxygen deprivation, likely due to the umbilical cord being compressed during delivery. 

The central health authorities in Friuli have been ordered to pay Marina Piller compensation of €800,000. 

Breaking the silence

The Italian cross-country skiing profile has so far not spoken about the tragedy. Now, Piller opens up in an interview with the newspaper Corriere Della Sera. 

“I lost my daughter shortly after her birth due to medical negligence. They took her from us and then came to tell us she had died. Without a word of comfort, without a word of apology, they vanished without a trace,” says Piller, continuing.

“As soon as Viola was born, they immediately took her to another room, and it was a shock to us. My husband and I were left alone, completely unaware, especially since up until that point, the delivery had been uneventful. We’re not doctors; we don’t know how to interpret the decisions made.”

Piller explains that the experience at the hospital and the way they have been treated afterward has made the tragedy even more painful. 

“And in seven years, no one has apologized,” she states. 

Aiming for prevention

Receiving compensation now means little to her. 

“There is no compensation to be paid; my daughter has never received any assistance. I hope this will never happen again; my daughter had the right to live, and we had the right to see her grow up. We want justice for her and to restore her dignity; money is not our concern, because no one can ever bring Viola back alive,” says Piller. 

Now she plans to use the compensation awarded to her for a project aimed at preventing similar tragedies from occurring in the future. 

“I would like to use the compensation for a project supporting people with disabilities that we are currently developing, but its implementation will take time. I also want to ensure that such tragedies never happen again and to be able to support parents facing similar situations.” 

Two World Championships and one Olympics

Marina Piller competed in two World Championships (Val di Fiemme in 2013 and Falun in 2015) and one Olympics for Italy. 

During the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, she participated in three events, with her best result being a 16th place in the skiathlon. However, her results from the Olympics have been annulled after she was banned for doping in 2018.  

She competed in 53 World Cup races, with her last race in Östersund in 2015. However, all her results from November 2013 onwards have been annulled due to the doping ban.  

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