Worker dies after medieval tower partly collapses in Rome

ROME: A worker who was pulled from the rubble of a medieval tower that partly collapsed in Rome died on Tuesday (Nov 4), Italian media reported, citing hospital sources.

The man, a Romanian national, had remained conscious during the long rescue operation before being hospitalised in critical condition, according to authorities.

“Resuscitation attempts were made for about an hour to save Octay Stroici,” Italian news agency ANSA said, citing the Umberto I hospital.

“Despite this, spontaneous cardiac activity could not be restored” and his “death was pronounced at 12.20am”.

He had been helping to renovate the Torre dei Conti, which partially collapsed shortly before midday Monday, sending rubble into the street and a thick white cloud of dust into the air.

Three other workers were earlier evacuated from the site, one of them in critical condition, a spokesman for the fire service told AFP.

The tower is in a busy area, just off the Imperial Forum and close to the Colosseum, Italy’s top tourist site.

A second partial collapse of the tower about one and a half hours later sent up further billowing clouds of dust.

After the first collapse, firefighters managed to “put up some protection” around the trapped man, so when the second collapse occurred, he was shielded, Rome Prefect Lamberto Giannini said.