An Italian priest who contracted Coronavirus died in a hospital after he renounced to a respirator for it to be given to a younger patient, Italian media report.

Fr Giuseppe Berardelli, aged 72, was given the respirator which was bought specifically for him by the parish community of Casnigo, where he worked.

But he renounced to it and saw that it was used by another patient, younger than him, and whom he did not know.

So far, 30 Italian priests have died after contracting Coronavirus. Sixteen of them are in the province of Bergamo, which has been harshly hit by the disease.

Photo: tgcom24mediaset