"A Japanese tourist has died after falling from the outer wall of the Pantheon in Rome. The man, 69, had been sitting on the wall before he plunged 7 metres into the ancient landmark's moat on Friday night, the Italian news agency, Ansa, reported. Rescuers had to force open a gate on the Via della Palombella outside the Pantheon in order to reach the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene."
"According to reports in the Italian press on Saturday, the man was visiting Rome with his daughter, who told police he fell after being overcome by a sudden illness, causing him to lose his balance. The wall is often packed with tourists taking a break from sightseeing. The Pantheon, which was built by Roman emperor Hadrian and is famous for its oculus the hole in its giant dome is one of Italy's most visited monuments."
"Entrance was free until 2023, when a ticketing system was introduced. The 5 fee was controversial at the time, but it did nothing to deter tourists, with more than 4 million visiting the site in 2024. Long queues often form in Piazza della Rotonda outside the monument. It is not the only tragedy to have struck tourists in Rome this year. In March, a 55-year-old woman from Spain died after falling from a high wall at the side of the Spanish Steps."
A 69-year-old Japanese tourist fell seven metres from the Pantheon’s outer wall and was pronounced dead after rescuers forced open a gate to reach him. The tourist had been sitting on the wall and, according to his daughter, was overcome by a sudden illness that caused him to lose his balance. The Pantheon remains heavily visited despite a controversial ticket introduced in 2023, attracting over four million visitors in 2024. Rome recorded a post-pandemic boom with a record 22.2 million arrivals in 2024. Other tourist fatalities in the city this year include falls and a suspected gas explosion.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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