Italy's 'Hero Chef' Went Back for Trapped Family

An Italian chef joined soldiers battling militants at a Mumbai hotel to bring milk to his wife and infant daughter who were trapped during the siege.

Italian chef Emanuele Lattanzi carrying his daughter walk out after being rescued from Oberoi...

Italian chef Emanuele Lattanzi carrying his daughter walk out after being rescued from Oberoi Trident Hotel where suspected militants are holed up in Mumbai, India, Friday, Nov. 28, 2008. Masked Indian commandos dropped from helicopters Friday onto the roof of a Jewish center in Mumbai where Muslim militants were holed up, possibly with hostages, as sharpshooters kept up a steady stream of fire at the five-story building. The attack came as commandoes scoured two luxury hotels room-by-room for survivors and holed-up militants, more than a day after a chain of attacks across India's financial center by suspected Muslim militants left people dead.(AP Photo/TV Today, via AP Television)

(AP)

All major Italian dailies splashed front-page photos Saturday of Emanuele Lattanzi carrying 6-month-old Clarice from the hotel on Friday and the Corriere della Sera newspaper hailed the "hero cook."

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini praised Lattanzi for his "courageous act" and televisions repeatedly interviewed the shy and exhausted-looking cook.

Lattanzi told RAI state TV that he was working in the kitchen on Wednesday night when gunmen entered the Oberoi, one of 10 sites attacked across Mumbai. The restaurant staff and customers managed to escape through an emergency exit, but the chef soon realized his wife and daughter had been left behind because they were asleep in their room.

"I found myself outside the Oberoi and I immediately called my wife, who was still inside," Lattanzi said. "They wouldn't let me in, there was nothing I could do."

As the siege of the hotel continued for two days, Lattanzi received frantic text messages from his wife, who said she had no more milk to feed the child. The cook pleaded to be let in with some powdered milk.

"They let me in (Friday) morning, covered by these soldiers," Lattanzi told RAI. "They escorted me to the door of the child's room."

Later in the day authorities said they had killed the last two gunmen in the Oberoi and Lattanzi walked out carrying the infant, still wearing the white chef's uniform he had on when the attack began.

"She is well, I had a pediatrician check her out," he said. "When I realized all three of us were safe I shed tears of joy."

One Italian, a 63-year-old businessman staying at the Oberoi, was killed in the attacks.

A group of 19 Italians caught up in the shootings flew back home to various cities Saturday. A handful arrived in Rome and were quickly spirited through the airport surrounded by police officers and TV cameras.