A message of forgiveness and resilience resonated through the Ariston theater in Sanremo, Italy, on Thursday evening as the Sanremo Music Festival dedicated a segment to Paolo Sarullo, a 25-year-old man from Albenga, Savona, who was left quadriplegic after a brutal assault in May 2024.
Sarullo, connected via video link from the Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation in La Spezia, addressed the audience alongside host Carlo Conti. Despite his severe physical limitations, Sarullo affirmed his decision to forgive his attackers, a statement met with applause from the audience, according to reports from Il Messaggero and Fanpage.it.
The attack occurred on May 19, 2024, as Sarullo and a friend were leaving a nightclub in the Savona area. A group of youths, aged between 18 and 20, attempted to steal his scooter, and a single punch to the face caused Sarullo to fall and suffer a severe brain hemorrhage. He underwent two 15-hour surgeries at Santa Corona Hospital in Pietra Ligure, but the injuries resulted in quadriplegia and severely impaired cognitive functions, initially limiting his communication to slight movements.
Sarullo’s participation in the festival was intended to raise awareness about youth violence and bullying, according to La Milano. Conti invited Sarullo to sing a few lines of “Balorda Nostalgia,” the song with which Olly won the 2025 festival, and the audience joined in, creating a moment of collective support.
The four attackers were arrested following the assault. In the initial trial, the individual who delivered the fatal punch received a six-year sentence for grievous bodily harm and aggravated robbery, although another member of the group was sentenced to three years and six months. The Court of Appeal upheld the convictions and awarded provisional damages of €1.27 million to Sarullo and €200,000 to his mother, though the financial compensation remains at risk due to the perpetrators’ lack of financial resources, as reported by La Milano.
Since the attack, Sarullo has been undergoing intensive rehabilitation at the Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation. Doctors initially reported that his condition was extremely grave, with a long road to recovery. Still, through dedicated therapy and Sarullo’s determination, he has regained the ability to breathe independently, speak, eat on his own, and move, aided by robotic assistance and specialized leg braces. He is now able to walk short distances with the aid of a specialized walker, known as a ‘grillo’.
Sarullo currently lives in La Spezia with his mother, Miranda, who left her job to provide full-time care. Their previous home in Campochiesa, Albenga, was deemed uninhabitable due to mold and insufficient space. A foundation, “Uniti per Paolo,” has been established to raise awareness about youth violence and support Sarullo’s ongoing needs and eventual return home.
“Don’t give up!” Conti encouraged Sarullo during the broadcast. “Hell no!” Sarullo replied, prompting another round of applause.
