American Tourist Drops Phone and Falls Into Volcano While Taking a Selfie in Mount Vesuvius, Italy

An American tourist fell into a volcano while attempting to retrieve his mobile phone during a selfie session at the crater of Mount Vesuvius in Italy this past weekend, according to local authorities.

Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, the 23-year-old man survived the fall but sustained injuries throughout his body.

However, the result of the incident could be the other way around if the stratovolcano is currently not in a state of rest, with its last erupted still in March 1944.

This means that Mount Vesuvius was not currently active during the volcano fall, meaning there is a chance that lava presence and all elements of a volcanic eruption at the time was absent when the US tourist fell and led to his survival.

The incident adds to the growing list of the so-called phenomenon of selfie accidents, where individuals taking a photo or video of themselves using their phones fall at the edge of a natural cliff or man-made skyscrapers.

During the dawn of smartphones for over a decade, hundreds of people have reportedly died while pursuing extreme selfies.

Volcano Selfie Accident

The Italian police told CNN that the Maryland man was reaching his phone when he fell into the volcano's crater on Saturday, July 9, as confirmation of the selfie accident and ruled out foul play.

An ambulance rushed into the scene and emergency personnel treated the American tourist, who reportedly did not wish to go to a hospital, the police added.

The man, identified as Philip Carroll, was accompanied by three relatives during a hiking activity at a forbidden trail, according to the carabinieri of Naples' provincial command.

Carroll got initially got stuck in the crater, which is almost 1,000 feet deep. As a result, guides used a long rope to pull him back, according to NBC News.

Two British tourists were also seen navigating on the forbidden trail with the likely purpose of hiking or climbing

Volcano Warning Signs

Authorities have placed clear volcano warnings signs of the dangers posed by the resting volcano.

This is due to the fact that an unprecedented volcanic activity or volcanic eruption is imminent, which can occur at anytime with little or without warning.

The Italian security force also said the signs indicated of forbidden access to Mount Vesuvius, as cited by CNN.

The force added that a prosecutor will decide on whether or not to press charges against Carroll over invasion of public territory.

Mount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius is located along the Gulf of Naples or near the Bay of Naples in the Italian region of Campania, which is relatively near the Italian city of Naples.

Vesuvius has been known for destroying the ancient Roman city of Pompeii in 78 A.D., when it underwent a massive volcanic eruption and released a thick layer of volcanic ash, according to history.com.

The stratovolcano incurred a total of over 50 eruptions based on recorded history.

In spite of Vesuvius being dormant for several decades, scientists and volcanologists predict it will erupt again in the future.