According to NBC News, a Maryland man was rescued from Mount Vesuvius’ crater after taking a selfie.
Twenty-three-year-old Philip Carroll was hiking a forbidden trail on the volcano, notoriously known for the A.D. 79 eruption that destroyed the Roman city of Pompeii and buried it in ash, with two family members on July 9.
“This family took another trail, closed to tourists, even if there was a small gate and ‘no access’ signs,”Paolo Cappelli, president of Presidio Permanente Vesuvio, spoke to NBC News.
Carroll stopped by to take a picture of his family as they reached the top, at more than 4,000 feet, of the volcano.
“He tried to recover it, but slipped and slid a few meters into the crater. He managed to stop his fall, but at that point he was stuck,” Cappelli told NBC News.
“He was very lucky. If he kept going, he would have plunged 300 meters into the crater,”He spoke to the outlet.
NBC News reported that Carroll received injuries and scratches to his back and arms.
Carroll was taken into police custody by Carabinieri officers. Cappelli stated to NBC News that it is unclear what charges he faces.
According to the Vesuvius national park website, Mount Vesuvius remains active. It last erupted on April 4, 1944.
The mountain’s highest peak stands at 4,190 feet. According to the website, the crater measures 1,476 feet in diameter and is 984 feet deep.