Chiarotti, a three-time Paralympian who carried his country's flag at the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Paralympic Games in Sochi, is considered among the greatest Italian players of all time.

He represented Italy at Turin 2006, Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014.

"Andrea's death is a huge loss for the whole Italian ice Movement," Italian Ice Sports Federation President Andrea Gios said.

"He was a champion and, even before that, a true sportsman, who has lived our disciplines with love and passion in every moment. 

"We will never forget it."

Chiarotti, born in December 1966, started his career as an ice hockey player and joined his first club at the age of 16.

In 1990, he lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident but continued his involvement in the sport as a coach.

He was then a pioneer of the Italian Para-ice hockey team, setting up the first group of players in 2003 before Italy made their Paralympic debut in Turin three years later.

Chiarotti served as captain of the team over the next decade, leading the squad to the European title in 2011 and silver in 2016.

He retired from the sport in 2017 but acted as team leader at the Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympics, where Italy finished fourth.

"I was lucky enough to know him well before Para ice hockey, when in 1998 after my accident, he gave me great strength," said Italy captain Gianluca Cavaliere.

"He first showed me what a prosthesis was. It was impossible not to get along with him: together we lived this wonderful adventure of the ice hockey fighting to grow the Movement and knowing in these years many fantastic people. 

"It is always said that the best are going and he was the best we have known for some time, well before yesterday.”