A U.S. traveler’s experience at the Roman landmark of the Colosseum became nightmarish when he stabbed himself on a fence and ended up hanging and shrieking in agony, with bystanders watching in shock, as reported by local media in Italy.
The horrific event occurred around 5 p.m. on Friday when a 47-year-old American individual tried to scale a barrier in Piazza del Colosseo, apparently aiming for a better view of the ancient Roman arena, as reported by
Il Messaggero
.
The man stumbled and got impaled on the jagged metal bars of the fence. According to the report, he started yelling loudly and hemorrhaging heavily until he lost consciousness.
A rescue vehicle swiftly arrived at the location, where medical personnel discovered that the man had sustained a serious injury in his lumbar region, impairing his mobility. After giving him a tranquilizer, they cautiously extricated him and applied a snug dressing to the injured area.
Approximately 20 minutes were needed to free and secure the tourist, as reported by Il Messaggero. The individual was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital in a critical state. Emergency surgery was performed on him, during which he received 80 stitches to mend the injury.
“It was horrific,” a visitor recounted to the newspaper in Italian. “I witnessed a man trapped on a rail, unable to extricate himself.”
The individual’s identity hasn’t been disclosed; however, sources from Il Messaggero indicate that they are a citizen of Taiwan as well. For several hours, the man remained speechless, yet he was interrogated by Italian authorities on Sunday, as per the report.
Even though this might be the most violent episode involving U.S. travelers at the historical site, it certainly isn’t the initial one of its kind.
In 2015, two women from California, aged 21 and 25, were taken into custody after they allegedly etched the letters “J” and “N” onto a brick wall within the Colosseum. Following this act, they proceeded to take selfies in front of their graffiti.
charged with aggravated damage
to a historically significant structure.
In 2021, two young American males, aged 24 and 25, were penalized with roughly a $900 fine each for
breaking into the Colosseum
Before daybreak to have beers indoors.
Built in 72 AD, the Colosseum stands as the grandest amphitheater within the boundaries of the ancient Roman Empire, attracting throngs of spectators for gladiator battles. Nowadays, this site holds the distinction of being both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major tourist attraction drawing millions annually.
This story originally appeared in
Los Angeles Times
.
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