TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An American tourist was impaled on the iron fence at the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, on Friday, May 2, 2025. He is suspected to have climbed the fence to get a clearer view of the historic building and take a selfie.
According to several Italian news media, the incident happened to a 47-year-old man whose identity is unknown. The American tourist living in Taiwan was found hanging on the metal bars in Piazza del Colosseo, piercing his spinal cord.
As reported by Il Messaggero, the man remained trapped on the fence for over 20 minutes. He screamed in agony until paramedics arrived.
Emergency personnel administered sedatives before carefully extracting him from the iron spikes. The rescue operation took more than 20 minutes and resulted in significant blood loss.
Undergoes Surgery with 80 Stitches
After his condition was stabilized and his wounds were tightly bandaged to stop the bleeding, he was transported to a hospital near San Giovanni. There, he underwent surgery and received more than 80 stitches.
Reports stated that the man was unable to speak for several hours following the incident. He was eventually questioned by local authorities on Sunday. He had reportedly been vacationing in the city for several days with family and friends. His companions were also interviewed but could not offer a clear explanation for what had happened.
One tourist who witnessed the scene described it as horrifying. "I saw the man impaled on the fence and he couldn't free himself," the witness said.
Possible Fine for Tourist Violations
Although no formal charges have been filed, there is a possibility the tourist could face penalties for damaging the historic site. According to the Los Angeles Times, in 2015, two California women, aged 21 and 25, were arrested after allegedly carving the letters "J" and "N" into the brick wall inside the Colosseum and taking selfies with the graffiti. They were charged with serious damage to the heritage structure.
In 2021, two American men aged 24 and 25 were fined approximately $900, or Rp14.8 million, each after breaking into the Colosseum before dawn to drink beer.
In 2023, two teenagers were fined up to €15,000, or Rp278.7 million, and faced up to five years in prison for carving their names into the Colosseum walls.
Built in 72 AD, the Colosseum is the largest amphitheater of the Roman Empire and once hosted thousands of spectators for gladiator games. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited landmarks in the world.
Editor’s Choice: Six Tour Operators Fined Rp374 Billion for Exploiting Colosseum Tickets
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