A sad story about Luke Franzese and his sister Teresa, who died the evening of 7 March, has gone viral. It took more than 24 hours that someone took from the house in which lives a large family, the body of the deceased girl, who had epilepsy and, as it turned out, had a positive test result for coronavirus.
«Guys, we’re broke, Italy abandoned us, let’s support each other. I ask you to spread this video everywhere — to make it go viral, asked Francesa to the subscribers. — This is my sister, you see it? She’s in bed yesterday».
Luke posted a video message in Facebook. He published his on March 8, around 19:00, a day after the death of Teresa.
«My sister’s body remained in bed for more than 24 hours. No one told us that we had to do this a cry for help sounded from the Bow Franzese from Naples, which in the evening of Saturday 7th March I lost my sister Theresa. — My sister died yesterday, I was waiting for responses from agencies since last night, but no one offered. I have a sister in bed, dead. I don’t know what to do. I can’t give her last respects she deserves. The power left me. I contacted all, but nobody could give me an answer.»
The details of these tragic events Francese said in an interview with the Italian edition Iene:
«During the week my sister was sick, she couldn’t get out of bed. Our doctor told us that can’t come to visit her, and the 7th in the evening my sister was in a semiconscious state.
After several attempts we managed to get through to the emergency services, who arrived after 40 minutes. Meanwhile, I was doing Teresa a heart massage and mouth to mouth to sustain life.
But it didn’t help, and that night, after the arrival of the ambulance, my sister died.»
Al Jazeera reports that the 47-year-old woman who suffered from epilepsy, but otherwise she was in good health, the symptoms of coronavirus has evolved in just a few days before her death.
At the urging of his brother, Teresa was tested for coronavirus after her death.
«I had a suspicion, because my sister had epilepsy, but prior to that, she was fine, she was taking medication», — said Luca.
According to the New York Post, health officials refused to check Luke Francese because, in their opinion, you first need to know if you were infected Teresa.
«I isolated myself. I could go anywhere to spread the virus if I have it, because I did his sister mouth-to-mouth to keep it alive, but nobody cares», he said.
Immediately after the death of sister Luke tried to contact the funeral company, but he said they don’t know what regulations they should follow.
«In the rescue service told me that within a couple of hours we don’t need to approach the body. I was asked to give information about how to deal with the body, but they couldn’t say anything to me.
The municipality of Naples on 8 August gave me the name of the funeral home, but when I called they refused to come and said that they are not equipped with», says Luke.
Meanwhile, his dead sister were laying in bed. The result of testing Theresa came on the night of the 8th, he was positive.
«The body was still in my house, and I isolated myself with the whole family. In the end, Teresa made sure the company with which I was able to contact. They came to pick up my sister on the morning of 9 March».
The video that I watched almost 10 million times, has prompted a local politician to intervene and help in finding a funeral home for Theresa.
In a press release Efi Campania — Italian Association for the organization of funeral services — expressed its opinion on the matter:
«As for the sad news, which involves the family Franzese, representatives of Efi Campania intend to emphasize that the problem of non-compliance procedures is administrative in nature.
It is definitely not for the willingness of the operators in this sector to do their job and carry out their delicate task.
Our heartfelt and sincere condolences to the family Francese».
None of the family members were not present during the funeral.
«It was surreal, ‘said Pasquale Pernis working in a funeral home, according to Al Jazeera. — We used masks, sterile shoes, protective clothing, goggles and gloves. Luke and another relative were there, but other family members were in the other room».
«If it gets worse, and we have to do it again, we will. It’s our job», added Pernis.
The whole family Franzese were subjected to testing.
«I, my parents and my little niece was negative, — said Luke. — But my 20-year-old granddaughter and brother-in-law received a positive result. We comply with all standards of insulation, but we are all in the same house».
Death Teresa became the first case in Italy, when the man with the coronavirus died at home, so there was confusion about what to do.
Francesco Emilio Borrelli, a member of the Regional Commission for health said,
«The family [is an example] of altruism. They are doing everything possible to protect their community, and people helping them, bringing food. Now the big problem is that they were closed for a few days and nobody picks up their trash. Appears unsanitary, and we don’t know what to do with it. Someone needs to help them.»
Italy, where all 60 million people remain in isolation, 827 confirmed deaths from the coronavirus, and more than 12,000 cases of infection.
«I have not heard anything from the authorities, repeats Francese. — I don’t understand how is it possible that I was alone in this situation! Apology would suffice. It would be nice to have the mayor of Naples, told me that he can’t handle it, not the fact that now everybody has to save themselves.»
