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Fatal Victim In Venice Boardwalk Tragedy Was Italian Woman On Her Honeymoon

VENICE BEACH (CBSLA.com) — The coroner has identified the fatal victim in the Venice Beach Boardwalk tragedy as an Italian woman who was on her honeymoon.

By all accounts, Alice Gruppioni, 32, was loving the Los Angeles area.

Married less than two weeks, Gruppioni and her new husband -- Christian Casadei -- were scheduled to leave for Tahiti Monday for the second leg of their honeymoon.

The woman died at Marina Del Rey Hospital with her husband by her side.  Casadei was not seriously hurt in the incident.

CBS2's Art Barron said the woman's grieving family, as well as relatives of her husband's, were scheduled to arrive at LAX Sunday evening.

The coroner will complete the woman's autopsy Monday.

Her family told the Italian consulate that they would take Gruppioni's body back to Italy for burial.

The Italian newspaper La Republicca reported that Gruppioni was the daughter of Valerio Gruppioni, well-known businessman and former president of the Bologna soccer team.

The team expressed their sorrow and grief in a statement.

"President Albano Guaraldi and all of Bologna FC are with the Gruppioni family in this time of unspeakable pain," the statement said.

A day-long fundraiser for the victims will be held on Monday, Aug. 5 at the Candle Café and Grill at 325 Ocean Front Walk. Click here for more information.

On Sunday evening, KCAL9's Brittney Hopper spoke to Giuseppe Perrone, the Italian consul general, who has been with Gruppioni's husband and the woman's grieving family members.

Speaking about Casadei, he said, "He does not understand how this happened. It is very hard for him to deal with the reality. The reality is so harsh."

He said Casadei can barely talk.

"It was their honeymoon. They were very excited to explore Los Angeles," said Perrone, "They were just having this casual, beautiful, nice walk on Venice Beach and all of a sudden they were faced with this horrible tragedy. It is just such a senseless and heinous act ... at [what should be] a very happy time in their lives. It makes the tragedy even more unbearable."

Hopper reported the family planned on making a public statement Monday morning.

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