American Tourist Impaled After Climbing Fence at the Colosseum in Rome
An American tourist had a harrowing experience at the iconic Colosseum in Rome when he was impaled after attempting to scale a fence surrounding the ancient amphitheater. The incident occurred on Friday evening, May 2, when a 47-year-old United States citizen and resident of Taiwan decided to climb a metal fence in the Piazza del Colosseo.
According to reports from Italian media outlets such as Il Messaggero, the man’s motivations for climbing the fence were unclear, but it is speculated that he was trying to get a closer look at the historic landmark. Unfortunately, during his attempt, he lost control and ended up impaled by a metal spike on his back.
The tourist was left in a painful and dramatic position until paramedics arrived at the scene and managed to free him after 20 minutes, as reported by Day Italia News. Witnesses described the man screaming in agony until he eventually passed out, leaving a crowd of shocked tourists to call for emergency assistance. The metal spike had pierced the man’s lumbosacral region.
Paramedics stabilized the injured tourist on-site and administered sedatives before transporting him to a nearby emergency room, where he received 80 stitches for his wound. The Italian national police conducted an investigation into the incident over the weekend, but no charges have been announced at this time.
Hyperallergic reached out to the Italian national police, the Carabinieri, and the Colosseum Archaeological Park for further comments on the incident.
Rome has been a hotspot for tourist misadventures, with incidents like this one highlighting the need for stricter regulations at popular cultural sites. In response to anticipated surges in tourist numbers, Italian officials have considered implementing fees and restrictions on access to sites such as the Trevi Fountain, Venice, and Pompeii. Tourists engaging in disrespectful behavior, like drinking from historic fountains and defacing ancient structures, have prompted these measures.
