Story By: Maja Mishevksa, Sub Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash

This is the touching moment a man is reunited with his family for the first time in 42 days after contracting COVID-19.

Taxi driver Marco Barbieri, 56, was reunited with his family in the Italian capital Rome and his daughter Clarissa Barbieri shared the video on her Facebook page where it has been widely circulated.

The footage shows the moment Barbieri arrives outside his home to the theme song from ‘Gladiator’ as loved ones rush out to greet him.

Meanwhile, neighbours are heard applauding the scene from their balconies.

Clarissa said: “They were 40 days of hell which is why I cried. I wondered why this was happening.

“If you don’t have it, you may not believe the virus can touch you, but it takes people you love away from you. My father is a beast, a warrior.”

According to local media, Marco first noticed the symptoms on 18th March and he soon encountered breathing problems.

He was taken to the Lazzaro Spallanzani Hospital in an ambulance where he tested positive for COVID-19 and was quarantined.

Marco used to be the director of security at AC Roma and he is remembered as the person while lifted Francesco Totti on his shoulders to the dressing room in 2001.

According to the latest figures from the Johns Hopkins University, Italy has registered 205,463 cases of COVID-19 and 27,967 related deaths.