A horrified class of primary school children watched in horror as their teacher dropped dead in the classroom.
Science and geography teacher Giovanna Fabrica, 44, died shortly after she collapsed at the Carlo Ederle primary school in Villa Bartolomea, near Verona, Italy on Monday.
Local media said she had been preparing to hand over to her colleague Tommaso De Stefani for the next lesson when she suddenly fell to the ground unconscious at around 2pm.
He then desperately began using CPR in full view of the class as he waited for paramedics to arrive, with an air ambulance and air ambulance arriving within around half an hour.
Medics took over the resuscitation efforts but were sadly unable to save her life.
De Stefani told local media: "It all happened in a few seconds. I had just greeted her. She was calm and smiling, as ever.
"I went to the front door for a moment to place some books on a counter when I heard a thud. As soon as I saw her on the ground, I called her, bending over her. She didn't respond, so I started CPR.
"I was very focused, I thought the technique was working. I hoped with all my heart that I could do it."
Giovanna's devastated husband, Angelo, said the teacher had no underlying health conditions.
The schoolchildren who witnessed the incident will now receive counselling from psychologists, according to headteacher Cristina Ferrazza.
Local media said her funeral would be held in her hometown of Naro in the Sicily region.
A recent survey carried out by OnePoll on behalf of Resuscitation Council UK, found CPR was the most taught technique people learned on first aid courses.
But it only ranked fifth in the list of skills adults felt most confident performing, behind dressing a wound, treating a burn, stopping excessive bleeding and treating a sprain.
