US tourist injured falling into Mount Vesuvius crater after taking selfie

US tourist hurt after falling into Mount Vesuvius crater while taking selfie & is hit with charges over forbidden route

A tourist from the United States who was attempting to collect his phone when he fell into the crater of Mount Vesuvius and got some relatively minor injuries.

The 23-year-old man and his family were able to reach the 1,281-meter-high (4,202-foot) peak of the volcano that towers over the city of Naples in southern Italy by avoiding a visitor turnstile and continuing down a path that was not permitted to be used.

According to reports from the local press, the man was in the middle of shooting a selfie when his phone managed to fall out of his fingers and into the opening of the volcano. After that, he descended into the crater in an effort to retrieve his phone, but he ended up losing his footing and falling several meters down into the pit.

The guides who were working on Vesuvius were the first ones to arrive, and one of them abseiled down into the crater to save the victim. Both the police and a mountain rescue helicopter were dispatched to the location in order to aid in the search and rescue operation.

The man required medical attention for wounds and bruises that he sustained on his arms and back.

After being reported by a member of the public, the tourist and his three family will be held accountable for the invasion of public territory. It was alleged that the group went to the volcano without any tickets, and when they got there, they took a route that was plainly marked as being off-limits due to the fact that it was exceedingly hazardous.