94-Year-Old Italian Dials 911 For a Christmas Toast

"I'm not missing anything, just a person to toast Christmas with". Malavolti Fiorenzo (center) and the two Italian Police officers (carabinieri) who briefly granted his Christmas wish.

A 94-year-old man in Italy called the emergency number 911 at Christmas because he was lonely and wanted someone to toast the holiday with. Two officers helped him.

The Italian Police (Carabinieri) were called to an unusual call-out on Christmas Day in city Vergato, near Bologna. "Good day, I am alone at home, I am not missing anything, just a physical person to toast Christmas with," said 94-year-old Fiorenzo Malavotti, according to a report in the Italian daily "Corriere della Sera". "If you had an official available to visit me for ten minutes? I'm just alone," the man said.

No sooner said than done: the Italian Police (Carabinieri) asked for the address and sent two officers. According to the "Corriere", they found Mr. Malavotti well and "visibly excited" about the visit.

They toasted Christmas together, as a photo shows. Malavotti told a few anecdotes about the Second World War.

After the short chat, the Carabinieri organized another video call with the man's relatives via mobile phone. Italy's government had imposed an extensive curfew over the holidays, which is why many relatives could not visit each other at Christmas.

Francis Tawiah (Duisburg - Germany)