A holiday to one of Europe's most active volcanoes ended in tragedy this week after a young tourist fell to his death into the fiery crater.
The 23-year-old man, a Dutch national, was on the volcanic island of Stromboli off the coast of Sicily when the horrific accident occurred. He is reported to have strayed from the official path and ventured too close to the edge of the active crater, a site so dramatic it has earned the forbidding nickname 'The Gates of Hell'.
Emergency services rushed to the scene after receiving desperate calls for help. A rescue helicopter was scrambled to locate the man, but his body was tragically recovered from a depth of several metres inside the crater. There was no hope of survival.
This devastating incident has ignited a fierce debate about safety measures on the volcano, which is a major draw for adventurous travellers. While guided tours are available and considered safe, officials are now urging extreme caution.
Local authorities and carabinieri police are investigating the exact circumstances that led to the fall. Initial reports suggest the victim may have been attempting to take a photograph when he lost his footing on the unstable ground.
Stromboli has been in a state of near-continuous eruption for centuries, with regular small explosions offering a spectacular natural light show. However, its raw power is a constant reminder of the inherent dangers of confronting nature at its most volatile.
