A man who claimed he didn't believe in the coronavirus and refused to get vaccinated has died of the disease after he tore off his life-saving oxygen mask.
Italian Luigi Cossellu initially refused any treatment when he was taken in a serious condition to the Santa Maria Goretti Hospital in Latina, central Italy.
The 28-year-old told staff he didn't believe the disease even existed when he arrived at the hospital on January 16.
It was also revealed that his 55-year-old father, who also doesn't believe the disease exists, is currently in the same hospital fighting for his life on a ventilator.
Luigi's condition quickly worsened over 24 hours, and he was diagnosed with acute respiratory failure as one of the consequences of the disease, and was moved to intensive care.
Tragically, while there, he continued to refuse treatment and even removed his oxygen mask.
Silvia Cavalli, the director of the local health authority in Latina, said it was only later that doctors persuaded him to leave it in place.
But it was too late to save him.
He died five days later after his condition deteriorated, leaving behind a fiancee.
Both father and son had refused to get vaccinated.
Local health counsellor Alessio D'Amato was among those pointing out the tragedy of the 28-year-old man's death, saying it should dispel the myth that young people do not die from the disease.
Italy has recorded more than 10million coronavirus cases since the pandemic began and 144,000 people have died , according to the Johns Hopkins University.
