American Tourist Killed by Lightning on Mount Etna

An American tourist lost his life after being struck by lightning while climbing Mount Etna, an erupting volcano in Italy.

The 30-year-old man had ventured into a restricted area of the volcano on Sunday, trying to reach closer to the summit, as reported by La Sicilia, a local newspaper. He was caught in a thunderstorm and hit by lightning.

Emergency services received the call for help shortly before 8 p.m. local time. Firefighters arrived at the scene by helicopter. The man was rushed to Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania, where he was declared dead in the emergency room.

Mount Etna, situated on Sicily island in Italy, holds the title of Europe’s highest and most active volcano. It has been erupting since early August, causing the cancellation of hundreds of flights.

This is a developing story with more updates expected.