Giovanni Lopez died on Christmas Eve after choking on a piece of panettone during his family’s festive dinner (Picture: Getty / Facebook)

A man in Italy choked to death while eating a piece of panettone during his family’s Christmas celebrations.

Giovanni Lopez,47,from Settimo Torinese in northern Italy,was enjoying lunch with his family on Christmas Eve when he collapsed after eating the traditional Italian bread.

His brother,Domenico Lopez,shared a tribute on social media,describing Giovanni as ‘generous and kind’.

His relatives rushed to help Giovanni after the panettone piece became lodged in his airways.

Domenico Lopez (left) shared a tribute to his brother,Giovanni Lopez (right) after he died choking on a piece of panettone

(Picture: Facebook / Domenico Lopez)

Family members called the ambulance service,which arrived at their home at around 2.30pm on Wednesday.

He died at home despite the paramedics’ best efforts to resuscitate him.

Officials investigating Giovanni’s death believe that a piece of candied fruit,typically found in panettone,blocked his airways rather than the dessert itself.

A medical examiner later confirmed his death,and his fatal choking was deemed an accident.

A panettone is a traditional Italian sweet bread typically filled with dried and candied fruits (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

His brother,Domenico,shared a post on Facebook in tribute to Giovanni.

He said: ‘Giovanni,you will always be in our hearts. You were pure,generous and good,even too much.

‘You always thought of others,never yourself.

‘I hope the Lord will be good to you,and I hope you have gone to a better life. I love you,my brother.’