rome
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A Japanese tourist fell to his death late Friday night from the perimeter wall surrounding the ancient Pantheon in central Rome, local police told CNN.
The man, named by the Japanese embassy as Morimasa Hibino, 69, was found by a priest in a ditch next to a monument about 7 meters (23 feet) below the road and alerted authorities.
Ancient Rome lies about 23 feet below today’s road level, and many ancient ruins, such as the Pantheon, appear sunken.
According to local media, the man’s daughter, who was traveling with him, said it appears the man suffered from a sudden illness that caused him to feel dizzy and fell while sitting on the outer wall.
A Rome police spokesperson told CNN that an investigation has been launched into the death, but no criminal activity is suspected.
Police had to break down the gate leading to the ditch in order to reach the man and retrieve his body. The Pantheon, which is also a Catholic church, was closed at the time of the incident.
Police said the area where the man was found has seen several incidents in recent years of people jumping into ditches in the road. Police frequently patrol the area to ensure that no one breaches the boundary wall.
In March, a 55-year-old Spanish tourist also died after falling from a high wall adjacent to the Spanish Steps, another popular tourist destination in Rome.
