An anti-vaxxer has died of Covid-19 after tearing off his oxygen mask and insisting he did not have the disease, while being treated at a hospital in Italy.
The man, named as Luigi Cossellu by local media and who was admitted on January 16, reportedly denied the existence of Covid-19 and had refused to get the vaccine.
Doctors immediately recognised the severity of the 28-year-old's condition upon his arrival at the Santa Maria Goretti Hospital in Latina, found south of Rome.
The man, named as Luigi Cossellu (pictured) by local media and who was admitted on January 16, reportedly denied the existence of Covid-19 and had refused to get the vaccine
They diagnosed him with acute respiratory failure due to coronavirus, and transferred him to an intensive care ward on his second day at the facility.
However, Cossellu refused treatment, and tore off his oxygen mask.
Doctors were able to persuade the man to put the mask back on, the general manager of Latina's ASL (Local Health Unit) Silvia Cavalli told Italy24news.
But his corporation was too late. His condition deteriorated, and he succumbed to the disease on his fifth day in hospital.
Cossellu's 55-year-old father - who is also an anti-vaxxer - is also in hospital currently in a serious condition on a ventilator, according to Italian news agency Ansa.
This was also confirmed by Silvia Cavalli, who reported the man's father is also being treated in the same hospital.
According to Italy24news, both men refused to get their Covid-19 vaccinations.
Mr Cossellu was from nearby Terracina and was engaged, according to his Facebook page.
Doctors diagnosed the Italian with acute respiratory failure due to coronavirus, and transferred him to an intensive care ward on his second day at the facility
Alessio D'Amato, the councillor for health of the Lazio Region, urged young people to get vaccinated, pointing to the 28-year-old's death. 'Covid also hits young people hard. vaccination is important,' he told the news outlet.
Italy24news also reported that a 28-year-old pregnant anti-vaxxer died overnight between Thursday and Friday in Rome.
She was reportedly in her 31st week of pregnancy, but was not vaccinated.
The news outlet reported that she had symptoms for 10 days, and was having difficulty breathing, and within a week her condition had dramatically dropped off, forcing doctors to perform a Caesarean section to deliver the baby.
But despite their best efforts, they were unable to save the woman, who later died.
A number of Italian anti-vaxxers have hit the news throughout the pandemic, particularly since the government introduced a vaccination mandate for over-50s that will come into power from February 1.
At the end of last year, a fervent Italian anti-vaxxer who gained a cult following after his regular phone-ins to a popular radio show was killed by Covid-19.
Maurizio Buratti, 61, known to his fans as
