A Melbourne father and weightlifter has died overseas while on a holiday with his family.
Chris Ciancio, who also coached at the Westbourne CrossFit gym in Braybrook, died in the early hours of Saturday morning.
According to an online fundraiser, he was on holiday in Italy with his wife, Margaret, and daughters Ginevra, 4 and Fiorenza, 2.
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Fundraiser organiser Benjamin Templeton wrote that Ciancio was “passionate and intensely knowledgeable” about the sport of weightlifting.
“Chris has impacted the lives of hundreds of athletes over his career as a weightlifter and coach,” he said.
“He was as authentic and honest as any man could ever be.
“Above all else, he adored his two beautiful girls and partner, Margaret.”
Templeton wrote that Ciancio was “selfless” in nature and did what he could to protect those he cared out.
“He did that for many of us in many ways, big and small, over the years,” he said.
In a post on social media, the Westbourne CrossFit gym said Ciancio’s death was a “monumental loss to our community”.
“Chris was to many of us a dear friend and mentor and he was instrumental in the survival of this gym after the lockdowns,” the post read.
“Our hearts are truly broken.”
The GoFundMe has been set up to help bring Ciancio back to Australia.
Almost $13,000 has been raised so far.
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