Featured Image Credit: Guide Vulcanologiche Vesuvio/Alamy
Topics: News, Travel, World News
Shola Lee
A 23-year-old man showed his injuries after falling into a crater of Mount Vesuvius.
Look, we're all for carving your own path and seizing the day but when that involves going down a forbidden route in one of the world's scariest volcanos, we'd argue you've made a misstep.
Literally, because shortly after going down that pathway, with firmly plotted 'no access' signs, Philip Carroll fell into a crater.
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Yep, it's almost as if there's a reason they put 'no entry' on undesignated routes through the volcano that left Pompeii an ashen wasteland.
So, how did Philip, from Maryland, fall in? And why was he there in the first place? Well, Philip and his family were holidaying in Italy when they fancied a little sightseeing.
Our mind goes straight to the Trevi Fountain, or the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but for Philip's family, it was a volcano. Each to their own.
Anyway, upon arrival at the big, lava-filled mass of mountain, the family decided to take the road less travelled, which was heavily advised against.
Wanting to take a selfie of their escapades, Philip took out his camera, only to drop it and fall into a hot crater, trying to pick it up.
Guides that were close by, the ones on the proper route, had to abseil down to get him and we're beginning to see why most of the world aren't fans of British tourists.
We mean a helicopter event had to get involved in the rescue.
Pictures were eventually shared of Philip's injuries, which were thankfully pretty minor but saw cuts and bruises climbing across his torso.
Paolo Cappelli the president of the Presidio Permanente Vesuvio, a base at the top of Vesuvius where guides work, spoke to NBC about the incident.
"This family took another trail, closed to tourists, even if there was a small gate and 'no access' signs."
Once on top, Philip tried to take a selfie, dropped his phone and '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.
"He was very lucky. If he kept going, he would have plunged 300 meters into the crater," Cappelli added.
And just in case anyone else needs reminding, if it says 'no access' there's usually a reason, especially for a volcano.
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