Thursday 17 September 2026 17:09
Tourist in Italy ends up in hospital after being charged by deer during selfie attempt
Latest incident in the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise renews warnings over close encounters with wildlife.A 57-year-old tourist was airlifted to hospital in Italy on Wednesday after a deer charged at him as he attempted to take a selfie in the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park.ย
The man was hurt in Villetta Barrea, a lakeside village in the central province of L'Aquila, when he approached the deer to photograph it and the animal charged him. He was treated at the scene before being flown by helicopter to hospital, where doctors diagnosed abdominal trauma, news agency ANSA reports.
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According to local reports, a crowd of tourists had gathered around the animal in the moments before the incident, with the man moving in for a close-up photo despite the deer showing signs of agitation.
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The episode has reignited concern over the risks of approaching wild animals, particularly in an area where deer have become something of a draw for both visitors.
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It follows two similar incidents just weeks earlier in the nearby town of Scanno, where deer charged two men who had approached them to feed, pet or photograph them; both men were knocked to the ground but were not injured.
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Those incidents prompted the municipality of Scanno to issue an ordinance reminding the public of proper behaviour around wildlife and banning people from approaching wild animals.
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Deer are common across the vast mountainous park, which spans Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise, and are frequently spotted at close range near villages and hiking trails, particularly during the autumn rutting season when males can become more aggressive and unpredictable.
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Park authorities and local officials have repeatedly urged visitors to observe wildlife from a safe distance, avoid feeding animals and resist the temptation to approach them for photographs, warning that even seemingly docile deer can react suddenly and with force if they feel under threat.
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A 57-year-old tourist was airlifted to hospital in Italy on Wednesday after a deer charged at him as he attempted to take a selfie in the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park.
ย
The man was hurt in Villetta Barrea, a lakeside village in the central province of L'Aquila, when he approached the deer to photograph it and the animal charged him. He was treated at the scene before being flown by helicopter to hospital, where doctors diagnosed abdominal trauma, news agency ANSA reports.
ย
According to local reports, a crowd of tourists had gathered around the animal in the moments before the incident, with the man moving in for a close-up photo despite the deer showing signs of agitation.
ย
The episode has reignited concern over the risks of approaching wild animals, particularly in an area where deer have become something of a draw for both visitors.
ย
It follows two similar incidents just weeks earlier in the nearby town of Scanno, where deer charged two men who had approached them to feed, pet or photograph them; both men were knocked to the ground but were not injured.
ย
Those incidents prompted the municipality of Scanno to issue an ordinance reminding the public of proper behaviour around wildlife and banning people from approaching wild animals.
ย
Deer are common across the vast mountainous park, which spans Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise, and are frequently spotted at close range near villages and hiking trails, particularly during the autumn rutting season when males can become more aggressive and unpredictable.
ย
Park authorities and local officials have repeatedly urged visitors to observe wildlife from a safe distance, avoid feeding animals and resist the temptation to approach them for photographs, warning that even seemingly docile deer can react suddenly and with force if they feel under threat.
