Screaming US tourist impaled on Rome’s Colosseum fence while possibly seeking selfie in horrifying scene

NY Post ^ | 5/04/25 | Anthony Blair

[Libloather]

An American tourist in Rome impaled himself on a metal fence at the Colosseum while possibly trying to take a selfie — screaming in pain as he was left helplessly dangling for more than 20 minutes.

The unidentified visitor, a 47-year-old US man based in Taiwan, pierced his spine and needed 80 stitches after the Friday afternoon horror at the Piazza del Colosseo, according to the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero.

It took paramedics more than 20 minutes to remove the man from the metal railing. He screamed till he lost consciousness and then hung lifelessly from the fence in horrifying scenes witnessed by crowds of tourists, according to reports.

The man is believed to have climbed the railing, which lines the arches of the Roman monument, in an attempt to get a better view or take a selfie, the outlet said.

Stunned visitors quickly called paramedics.

The man was rushed to nearby San Giovanni hospital in “code red” condition after the terrifying incident around 5 p.m.

He was provided oxygen, stitched up and listed in serious but stable condition.

[Libloather]

Now he's famous. Dumbass.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“Pierced his spine...treated with a few stitches.”

Those Italian docs are amazing!

[ClearCase_guy]

I find I lack sympathy for such things.

[Dilbert San Diego]

People take such risks for a selfie. How crazy are these people?

People have died trying to get selfies. What the heck motivates someone to tempt fate just to get a picture?

[rlmorel]

Reality imitates history.

[lee martell]

Not a Doctor, but I don’t think
you ever ‘stitch’ a pierced spine back together, not even with fishing line.

[Col Frank Slade]

Dumb ass is lucky to be alive.

[rlmorel]

Indeed.

[BlackbirdSST]

just to get a picture?

Of themselves. Vanity on steroids.

[Fresh Wind]

The “Ugly American” in real life.

[Captain Jack Aubrey]

I was there just two weeks ago. I just don’t understand why this thing didn’t happened to me, too.

[Secret Agent Man]

At least hes alive. Not like the gals and guys who fall off cliffs or climb stuff they arent supposed to and fall.

[rbg81]

Live for the selfie, die by the selfie.

[rbg81]

LOL. See my #13.

[frank ballenger]

He thought he was smarter than the ones who go to the edge of a cliff and then require a friend with a telephoto smartphone to see them at the bottom of the gorge.

Some highlights.
The US Dept. of Transportation estimated that in 2014, the so-called “year of the selfie”, 33,000 people were injured while driving and using a cell-phone in some fashion.

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3 teenagers hit by a Union Pacific train....had just posted the message “Standing right by a train ahaha this is awesome!!!!”

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Russia.
A 17-year-old girl fell 30 feet to her death after being hit by 1,500 volts when attempting to grab live wires on a railway bridge.

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Wales A walker in the Brecon Beacons was struck by lightning when the metal selfie stick he was using to capture a photograph acted like a lightning rod, causing death by electrocution.

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29 year old amateur pilot crashed, killing himself and a passenger as he was taking selfies.

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Russia. Two young men died in the Ural Mountains after they pulled the pin from a live hand grenade to take a selfie. The phone with the picture remained as evidence of the incident.

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India. Seven people drowned while taking selfies on Mangrul Lake Their boat had tipped over as they were standing up to pose.

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Spain. A man was gored to death in the annual bull-running festival in Villaseca de la Sagra while trying to take a selfie with a bull.

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Believe it or not, many dozens more as on:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_selfie-related_injuries_and_deaths

[Ken Regis]

Not one mention of Darwin in 14 replies?

[Bobbyvotes]

How many people have fallen in Grand canyon taking selfies?
They all get Darwin awards.

[Az Joe]

Film at 11

[Qwapisking]

did anyone else get a selfie next to the guy? now that would be one HECK of a selfie!

[Beowulf9]

Revenge of the Emperors.