Now that’s a dedication to the perfect shot
Who among us hasn’t risked their lives for the perfect selfie? Really… just me? Case in point.
A 23-year-old American tourist accidentally dived into the crater of Vesuvius, an active volcano in Italy, while taking a selfie. Vesuvius last erupted in 1944, but it is still active. (So if you’re having a dry spell, don’t worry, because it could be much worse and you can still call yourself “sexually active.”)
According to local media, the man wanted to take a picture from the top of a volcano for the breathtaking view of the Italian coast when his selfie almost cost him his life. His phone slipped from his hand, fell into the volcano and he tried to retrieve it for reasons unknown. (If this happens to you, just let the phone die). After losing his balance on the uneven ground, he dove further into the volcano. Yikes.
Fortunately, the man survived the story. But he did not escape unscathed: photos of the aftermath show wounds and scratches on his body. To rescue him, guides from Vesuvius had to abseil into the crater via a rope, which also endangered his life.
Paolo Cappelli, president of Presidio Permanente Vesuvio, a base for tourist guides on the volcano, told The Independent, “Four volcano guides immediately jumped into action, and when they arrived on the scene, one of them was lowered by a rope about 15 meters down to secure the inexperienced tourist,” he said. “He was very lucky; if he had walked on, he would have fallen 300 meters into the crater.”
Unfortunately, the man and his family are now accused of “trespassing on public land” for allegedly going to the top of the volcano without a ticket and ignoring the clear signs marking the forbidden path.
In short, try this – literally none of these things, even for a millisecond – at home.
