Sammy Basso, an Italian suffering from progeria (or Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome), a disease of premature aging, died at the age of 28, many public figures lamented on Sunday, saluting his courage in his fight against the disease .
According to Italian media, he was the oldest patient in the world affected by this disease for which life expectancy at birth is around 13 years.
Sammy Basso died Saturday evening after feeling unwell while dining with friends in a restaurant, according to media reports.
“Sammy Basso was an extraordinary example of courage, faith and positive spirit. He faced every challenge with a smile, proving that the strength of the soul can overcome all obstacles,” wrote head of government Giorgia Meloni on X.
“His commitment to progeria research and his ability to inspire others will forever be a role model,” she added.
Born on December 1, 1995 in northern Italy, Sammy Basso studied at university in Padua and in 2021 he specialized in molecular biology with a thesis seeking to clarify the relationship between inflammation and progeria, according to the daily “La Repubblica”.
Sammy Basso was active on social media, followed by more than 70,000 people on Instagram.
