An American tourist’s visit to the Colosseum in Rome took a turn for the terrifying after the man impaled himself on a fence and was left dangling and screaming in pain, while other visitors looked on in horror, according to Italian news outlets. The gruesome incident took place around 5 p.m. Friday, when the 47-year-old American attempted to climb over a fence in Piazza del Colosseo, presumably to get a closer look at the historic Roman amphitheater, according to reporting by Il Messaggero. The man fell and was skewered by the sharp metal bars of the fence. He began screaming and bleeding profusely until he became unconscious, the newspaper reported. An ambulance rushed to the scene, and medics found that the man had suffered a severe injury in his lower back that was preventing him from moving. They administered a sedative before carefully detaching him and applying a tight bandage to the wound. It took around 20 minutes to detach and stabilize the tourist, according to Il Messaggero. He was then taken to a local hospital in critical condition. He underwent emergency surgery and received 80 stitches to close the wound.
“It was terrible,” a tourist told the newspaper in Italian. “I saw that man impaled on a railing and he couldn’t free himself.” The man’s identity has not been released, but he is reported to also be a resident of Taiwan, according to Il Messaggero. The man was unable to speak for several hours but was questioned by Italian law enforcement on Sunday, the outlet reported. Although this may have been the bloodiest incident involving American tourists at the historic monument, it is far from the first. In 2015, two California women, ages 21 and 25, were arrested on suspicion of carving the letters “J” and “N” into a brick wall inside the Colosseum and then posing for selfies in front of their handiwork. They were charged with aggravated damage to a building of historical interest. In 2021, two American men, ages 24 and 25, were fined approximately $900 each for breaking into the Colosseum before dawn to drink beers inside. The Colosseum dates back to 72 A.D. and was the largest amphitheater in the Roman Empire, a place where thousands gathered to watch gladiators fight. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and visited by millions of tourists a year.
Not really sure why this matters, but this American tourist decided to go all out and impale himself on a fence while trying to get a closer look at the Colosseum. Like seriously, what was he thinking? Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like some people need to learn how to respect historical monuments and not do dumb stuff that ends in emergency surgery.
I mean, come on, why would you risk your life to climb over a fence just to see a building? It’s not like the Colosseum is going anywhere. This tourist probably thought he was in an action movie or something, but reality hit him hard when he got stuck on those sharp metal bars. And then he had to endure the embarrassment of being rescued in front of a crowd of horrified onlookers. Talk about a vacation gone wrong.
And let’s not forget about those two California women who thought it would be a great idea to vandalize the Colosseum for the sake of a selfie. Like, seriously? Who raised these people? It’s mind-boggling how some individuals have zero respect for history and cultural heritage. And then we have these two guys sneaking into the Colosseum to have a little beer party. I mean, I get it, it’s a cool venue, but breaking in is definitely not the way to go.
All in all, it’s clear that some tourists need to take a step back and think before they act. The Colosseum is a symbol of ancient Rome and should be treated with the respect it deserves. Hopefully, incidents like these serve as a wake-up call for visitors to appreciate the historical significance of such landmarks and not engage in reckless behavior that puts themselves and others in danger.
So, the next time you’re traveling to a historic site, remember to be mindful of your actions and show some respect. It’s not worth risking your life or facing legal consequences just for the sake of a thrill. Let’s preserve these incredible monuments for future generations to enjoy and learn from.
