Coronavirus: Cyclist takes bike into sea ‘to try and avoid checks’ in Italy under lockdown

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A cyclist went into the sea while reportedly trying to avoid police checks during Italy’s lockdown over its coronavirus outbreak.

“I haven’t done anything,” he shouted while wading through the water holding his bike, according to footage of the incident.

A person behind the camera replies: “I know you haven’t done anything, but we need to do identification checks”.

The cyclist was ordered to come out the sea several times, the video — seen in Italian local media — shows.

He was approached by authorities on Otranto beach in the southern Apulia region, according to local newspaper La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno.

Authorities ended up identifying him and giving him a fine, according to Italian news agency ANSA.

The government has ordered everyone to stay at home unless they have to go outside for a list of essential reasons, for example to get groceries or go to work.

People can cycle if it is for necessary travel, or to exercise as long as they stay near their house, according to the nationwide restrictions.

The country has been in lockdown for several weeks as authorities battle the spread of Covid-19, which has infected more than 97,500 people in the country, official figures showed on Monday.

Tougher sanctions for those who ignore the rules were recently brought in by the government, with fines raised to between €400 (£357) and €3000 (£2677).

The death toll for those who officially tested positive for the disease stood at around 10,700 on Monday.