US tourist, 23, injured after falling ‘several metres’ into Vesuvius crater

A 23-year-old American tourist fell into Mount Vesuvius while taking a selfie and dropped his cell phone inside the volcano.

Italian police had to rescue a tourist after he climbed up without a ticket and fell inside, but authorities are now charging him and his family with trespassing.

A man and three of his relatives decided to bypass the entrance for visitors, ignoring the turnstile and choosing a forbidden path to the crater on top of the volcano that looms over the Italian city of Naples.

He descended into the crater at the top of the volcano, which is active but has not seen an eruption for almost 80 years, apparently to try to get better photos.

Italian police had to rescue a tourist after he climbed without a ticket to see a volcano towering over the Italian city of Naples

The man was reportedly taking a selfie Wanted in Romewhen he dropped his phone and saw it fall to the bottom of the volcano.

When he tried to put it back, he also slipped and fell inside a few meters further into a 1,000-foot crater.

Local Vesuvius guides were the first on the scene and descended into the crater to pull him out.

The man was treated for cuts and bruises on his arms and back, but he refused to go to the hospital.

Police arrived on the scene and charged the young man with trespassing along with three members of his family.

As Vesuvius is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world

A color view from the harbor of Vesuvius showing its eruption in April 1906.

Today, Vesuvius is the only active volcano on the European mainland.

Its last eruption was in 1944, and its last major eruption was in 1631.

Another eruption is expected in the near future, which could be devastating for the 700,000 people who live in the “death zones” around Vesuvius.

Formed less than 200,000 years ago, this volcano is a relatively young volcano, having experienced numerous eruptions throughout its history.

Vesuvius destroyed the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum during its eruption in AD 79.

The eruptions of 512 were so strong that Theodoric Goth exempted the people who lived on the slopes of Vesuvius from paying taxes.

The crater on the summit was formed by an eruption in 1944.

Mount Etna in Sicily is the highest active volcano in Italy, with an elevation of about 10,900 feet at its highest point.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica