US hiker dies after being struck by lightning on Mount Etna
An American tourist died after being struck by lightning while hiking on Mount Etna in Sicily. Authorities have been restricting access to the volcano due to recent eruptions and hazardous weather conditions.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the dangers of visiting active volcanic sites during periods of extreme weather and geological instability.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, Mt Etna is Europe's most active volcano, with a series of eruptions occurring in recent weeks
An American tourist has died after being struck by lightning while hiking on Mount Etna in Sicily.
The 30-year-old, who has not been named by authorities, was on the active volcano on Sunday when a thunderstorm broke out, Italian media report.
The man is said to have been found by firefighters and emergency services in a state of cardiac arrest at about 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT) in a restricted area sometimes used to get closer to the summit. He was flown by helicopter to Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania but was declared dead on arrival.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in