Guido Nasi 1982-2026
January 8th 2026Tourist SOS is greatly saddened to learn of the passing of Guido Nasi, the Italian national who, at the age of 17, took a trip to Ireland that changed his life forever. Guido was the victim of a serious assault which resulted in a catastrophic brain injury, leaving him paralysed from the neck down. Despite this life-altering injury, Guido never lost his love for Ireland and returned on several occasions. His most recent visit was in 2019, when he and his mother, Simonetta, were guests of honour at an event in Áras an Uachtaráin hosted by then President Michael D. Higgins, marking the Service’s 25th anniversary.
It is every parent’s worst nightmare to receive a call to say their child has been seriously injured. Tourist SOS was called upon to assist Guido’s mother, Simonetta, who did not speak English. Our wonderful volunteer, Bernadette Kelly, who is fluent in Italian, provided invaluable support and spent weeks with Simonetta in hospital as she tried to understand and come to terms with the outcome for her son. Bernadette also supported the family during the court case in 2001 and continued to be a positive and constant presence in their lives in the years that followed.
Tourist SOS would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to all of Guido’s loved ones. He was truly inspirational and demonstrated remarkable resilience, positivity and determination in the face of immense challenges. His continued connection with Ireland reflected his genuine affection for the country and its people.
Guido endured a difficult life and a difficult end, and we hope that he is now at peace.