American tourist reportedly impaled on Rome’s Colosseum fence as dozens watch in horror

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Pope Francis’ tomb opens to visitors at Rome’s St. Mary Major Basilica

The tomb of Pope Francis was opened to visitors at St. Mary Major Basilica, where Catholic faithful lined up to pay their respects a day after world leaders and hundreds of thousands attended the late pontiff’s funeral. (AP)

Dozens of witnesses reportedly looked on in horror as a U.S. tourist visiting Rome screamed in pain after impaling himself on a metal fence at the Colosseum.

The man — a 47-year-old American citizen living in Taiwan — was stabbed in the spine while attempting to climb over the historic monument’s fence. He was possibly attempting to get a better view, according to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero.

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FILE – The man — a 47-year-old American citizen who lived in Taiwan — was  impaled by a metal fence at the Colosseum, according to a local newspaper in Rome. (Art Media/Print Collector/Getty Images)

Bystanders who saw the horrific event called for help as the tourist, stuck on the fence, screamed until he lost consciousness. Law enforcement and paramedics quickly arrived at the scene, but it took them more than 20 minutes to remove him from the fence, Il Messaggero reported.

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An arched window in the Colosseum is seen behind a metal fence. (Getty Images)

Once freed, the tourist was immediately brought to the emergency room, where doctors performed surgery. The man’s lower back wound was closed with more than 80 stitches, and he was hospitalized in serious condition, the outlet reported.

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The unidentified man — who was unable to speak for hours after the incident — was on vacation with family and friends and had only been in Rome for a few days, Il Messaggero reported.

Law enforcement and paramedics quickly arrived at the scene, Il Messaggero reported. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The horrifying incident took place less than a week after Pope Francis was laid to rest in Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore. The April 26 funeral ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica drew more than 250,000 mourners from across the globe to the country’s capital, according to the Vatican.

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Italy’s Civil Protection Department and police force Polizia di Stato did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Sophia Compton is a Digital Production Assistant at Fox News Digital. Sophia was previously a business reporter covering finance, energy and tourism and has experience as a TV news producer. She graduated with a journalism degree in 2021 from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.