American Tourist Impales Himself Trying to Climb Colosseum Railing in Rome

An American tourist suffered a serious injury when he attempted to climb a railing at Rome's Colosseum.

As reported by Italian media outlets, including Day Italia News and Corriere Adriatico, the unidentified 47-year-old man slipped while climbing the railing at the major tourist destination and impaled himself on metal spikes below on Friday, May 2. Witnesses said that the man cried out in pain and passed out moments later.

Paramedics were called to the scene, and the man was taken to a nearby hospital. It took them 20 minutes to remove him from the railing. His lower back suffered the brunt of the injury.

The man reportedly required 80 stitches and suffered from a pierced spine, but is currently in a stable condition. The man lives in Taiwan and was visiting family in the Italian capital at the time of the incident. While his motive for climbing the railing hasn't been confirmed, Italian newspaper Il Messaggero suggested he was trying "to capture a closer view of the Colosseum, perhaps for an unforgettable selfie." An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

The horrifying accident comes shortly after thousands flocked to Rome to mourn the death of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday, April 21, at age 88.