Italian faces Covid fine after friend’s fatal accident while exercising too far from home

The pair were running in the mountains of Lombardy region

Credit: iStockphoto

An Italian runner has been fined hundreds of euros for breaking Covid-19 restrictions after he called emergency services when his friend died while they were exercising outdoors together too far from home.

The pair were running in Monte Palino, Lombardy, on Saturday when one of them — 34-year-old Simone Massetti — slipped and fell from a ridge.

His friend, who has not been named, called emergency services who eventually managed to airlift his body from the ravine, but Massetti did not survive.

Now, his friend has been issued with a fine of between €400-€500, according to local news reports, because the pair should not have been travelling to the mountainous area, which is about six miles from where they lived.

Currently, residents of Lombardy are allowed to exercise but must stay near their homes and cannot cross municipal boundaries.

While some local media outlets lamented the injustice of fining a man who had tried to save his friend’s life, the man responded that all he could think about was what had happened to his friend.

The funeral for Massetti — said to be an experienced runner who loved the mountains — was held under social distancing regulations on Tuesday.

Among the outpouring of condolences from friends and family was a note from Italian Olympic speedskater Arianna Fontana, who wrote on Facebook: "Run, Simo, run free — as your spirit always has".

Lombardy is one of several Italian regions currently classified as "red zones", where 16.5 million citizens can only leave home for work, health care or other essential reasons.

The country reported its highest daily death toll since early April on Tuesday at 731, up from 504 the previous day.