Japanese tourist falls to death at Pantheon in Rome

A 69-year-old Japanese tourist has died after falling off the perimeter wall of the Pantheon in Rome, local media reports.

Morimasa Hibino is said to have fallen from a height of about seven metres (22.9 ft) at around 21:50 local time (19:50 GMT). A priest who was passing by alerted the police when he saw the man lying in the ditch, according to local newspaper la Repubblica.

Emergency services and firefighters reportedly had to force open a gate outside the ancient Roman temple, before finding the man dead in a ditch.

An investigation is under way to determine the cause of the death.

The man was sitting on the edge of the wall, lost his balance and fell, la Repubblica reported, citing police.

Investigators have obtained surveillance images and videos overlooking the spot where the man was sitting, local media reports.

The Pantheon is one of Italy’s most visited attractions, with millions of tourists estimated to see it every year.