On Saturday afternoon, two girls drowned in the sea off the southern coast of Italy, near Naples.

The girls had been swimming with some friends after selling some trinkets and begging for change on the beach when violent waves overpowered them. Rescuers were able to save the friends but could not reach the 12 and 13-year-old cousins, Violetta and Cristina, in time. Their bodies lay covered in beach towels, awaiting the police and a set of coffins.

And that's when things took a demented turn...

As evidenced in the disturbing photo above, most the beachgoers continued to sit within feet of... the feet. With two dead bodies almost within reaching distance of some relaxing citizens, the police worked around the unfazed living souls.

Photographs show sunbathers in bikinis and swimming trunks sitting close to where the girls' feet can be seen poking out from under the towels concealing their bodies. A photographer who took photos at the scene told CNN the mood among sunbathers had been one of indifference.

"While the lifeless bodies of the girls were still on the sand, there were those who carried on sunbathing or having lunch just a few meters away," Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported.

Check out the guy on the right... you can almost make out his disgusted reaction to the goings-on around him.

Since I, Scanner Brian, am Italian, I can't say I'm surprised to hear that this happened in Italy. However, what I still don't get is why the police let these idiots stay on the beach-- here in America, there would've been some big, burly detective clearing the sand with a bellowing "what the hell do you people think you're doing? Did you see it happen? No? Then get your Cheetos and ratty old boombox and get outta here!" or something... 

Via CNN.