A Japanese tourist died after falling from the perimeter wall of the Pantheon in Rome on Friday night. The man, identified as Morimasa Hibino, 69, was in holidays in the Italian capital with his daughter when, after suffering an alleged discomfort, he lost his balance and fell from a height of approximately seven meters into the moat that surrounds the historic mausoleum, according to information from the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
The accident occurred at the back of the monument, around 9:50 p.m. in the sector opposite the main access that leads to Piazza della Rotonda. Morimasa, who was on vacation with his daughter, had sat alone on the wall, a common practice among tourists and residents who seek to rest after touring this building.
This structure, which completely surrounds the Pantheon rotunda, rises several meters above both the level of the entrance and the moat that surrounds it, which increases the risk of accidental falls. A priest who was passing by immediately alerted the emergency services. The firefighters went to the scene and, in order to access the ditch where the man was lying, They had to force the exterior gate of the monument.
Upon arrival, the health personnel could only certify the death of the touristaccording to the Italian media. Police and Roma Capitale agents also participated in the operation, who began investigations to clarify the exact circumstances of the event. According to information from the Italian media lto Republicainvestigators have acquired images from the Pantheon’s video surveillance cameras and a makeup and cosmetics store overlooking the place where the fatal accident occurred.
The Pantheon, considered one of the most visited monuments in Italyfulfills a double function as a cultural building and an active Catholic place of worship. Its management is regulated by an agreement between the Ministry of Culture and the vicariate for the diocese of Rome on behalf of the Holy See, which underlines its historical and religious relevance.
Last March, a 55-year-old Spanish tourist died after falling into the void in the area of the Spanish Steps in Romeaccording to the local police, which opened an investigation into the event. The woman also fell from a wall near the stairs of this emblematic area of the Italian capital and fell onto a private area.
Initially, the emergency services evacuated the tourist in serious condition to the Umberto I Polyclinic Hospital, where she ended up dying as a result of the injuries. serious injuries sustained.
