Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash

This is the moment a man celebrates his birthday with his mum on the border of two Italian provinces as residents have to remain within their home boundaries during the current lockdown measures.

Francesco Piacentini, 44, who lives in the province of Trentino with his wife and two children, decided to meet his mum Delma Visona, 67, in Pian delle Fugazze on the border between the regions of Veneto and Trentino.

Piacentini told Newsflash: “My birthday was on 1st May and we talked on phone and I felt that she was sad.”

He added that they had not seen each other for over two and a half months since the COVID-19 lockdown measures were introduced.

The mother, who lives alone after her husband died several years ago, told Newsflash that they decided to meet up on the border on 4th May and they both respected social distancing measures.

Piacentini told Newsflash: “We placed a table in the middle of the boundary line and my mum brought cake and wine to celebrate my birthday.”

He added: “She was very moved. I am her only son and my dead died about three years ago. In these two and a half months, she has not seen anybody.

“It has been difficult, but we are respecting all the rules until the end.”

Piacentini said they shared a “very beautiful moment without breaking any rules” when celebrating his birthday on the border.

He also said that there is “a lot of negativity around” but he kept busy by “focussing on my family and garden”.

Piacentini added: “I now live life with a different perspective.”

According to the latest figures from the Johns Hopkins University, Italy has registered 214,457 cases of COVID-19 and 29,684 related deaths.