A young boy has died in horrific circumstances after a dream family holiday turned to tragedy.

Matteo Brandimarti was in the spa at the picturesque Duca di Montefeltro Hotel in Pennabilli, Italy when he became pinned underwater.

The 12-year-old’s leg was sucked into the filter and he could not resurface, according to local outlet il Resto del Carlino.

It is understood he was underwater for five minutes before hotel staff turned off the filter to release his leg.

Matteo was pulled from the water unconscious and not breathing after the terrifying incident around 10.30am on April 5. He was then evacuated by helicopter to a nearby hospital where he was placed on life support.

He was pronounced brain dead on April 9 and his organs have been donated to six other children, the family’s lawyer Umberto Gramenzi told People.

The principal at his local school described Matteo as “a lively boy, interested in life, and beloved by his classmates”, while his parish priest said he was an “intelligent, capable, helpful, curious, and always present child”.

Mr Gramenzi said an investigation into the fatal incident was underway.

“There appears to have been negligence on the part of the hotel facility due to a malfunction in the pool’s suction system,” he told People.

“It is considered a crime of negligence due to carelessness, imprudence, lack of competence, and failure to comply with regulations regarding pool operations.”

Local media have reported the hotel owner, manager, and pool maintenance worker on shift at the time of Matteo’s death are under investigation by police in relation to negligent homicide.

Mr Gramenzi said the family hopes those responsible are criminally prosecuted and punished.