He was annoyed when his dog suddenly leapt on his lap mid-drive — moments later, the same move saved him from a deadly disaster
The picturesque Cinque Terre, with its charming villages and coastline, has long been a favorite destination for travelers. However, on October 25, 2011, this peaceful area faced one of its worst natural disasters in recent memory. A powerful flood and mudslide struck, causing devastating damage and loss of life. The story still resonates with locals, especially the one of a man and his loyal dog. When the pet owner's small canine jumped into his lap mid-drive, he didn't know that the odd act would actually end up saving his life.
As reported by CNN Travel, the flood hit five small fishing villages, including Vernazza, where the streets were buried under a foot of mud. Thirteen people died, and many more lost their homes and belongings. Among those affected was Pierpaolo Paradisi, a hotel owner who survived thanks to a quick decision by his dog, Leo. Paradisi had been working on renovating an abandoned village called Prevo, near Vernazza, where he planned to open a hotel. Just a month before the flood, he adopted Leo, a rescue dog from Serbia. “His story was particular. He was captured with his mother and sister, and they were killed in front of him. I have a picture of the cage in which he was. Out of 48 dogs, he was the only one they saved," he shared.
The flood destroyed much of the area, but Paradisi and Leo’s story became a symbol of hope and survival. Paradisi explained how Leo, despite being a new addition to his life, seemed to sense danger during the storm. On the day of the flood, Paradisi was driving through worsening weather when Leo jumped from the backseat to his lap, forcing him to stop. Moments later, a landslide swept away the road and guardrails, likely saving their lives. Paradisi described how “the mountain just came down,” and that without Leo’s intervention, the outcome could have been fatal. "A meter further forward, and we’d have been gone,” he recalled. After that terrifying experience, Paradisi and Leo spent the night in their car, cut off from help as roads remained destroyed.
In the following days, Paradisi witnessed the devastation, with helicopters searching for missing people and streets looking like war zones. His house survived, but access was blocked. Despite the trauma, Paradisi and Leo’s bond grew stronger. He later named the hotel in Prevo, Leo’s Lodge, and the dog became a beloved host. Paradisi shared how Leo’s instincts might be linked to dogs’ extraordinary senses. “Dogs have 150 million olfactory receptors in their noses; humans have five million,” he said. “Dogs can probably smell odors that we can’t during such strong weather. The smell, combined with the hail and thunder, must have made him understand we needed to stop.”
Reflecting on the tragedy, Paradisi admitted that he remains cautious, always prepared for emergencies. “The flood made me realize that the Cinque Terre is a very dangerous area,” he said. "Geologists think it’ll be the first area in Italy that disappears." Paradisi shared that after the incident, he takes weather warnings seriously and stays home whenever one is issued. "I close myself in the house because it’s much safer to be inside — but I won’t go to bed, I stay on the sofa with Leo and the cats."