Tragic accident occurred overnight, resulting in closure of landmark on Wednesday.A specialist rope-access worker has died following an accident at the Colosseum, prompting Italy's culture ministry and the monument's management to close the ancient amphitheatre to the public.Andrea Moretti, a technician specialised in high-altitude rope work, died overnight in a workplace incident, the Italian culture ministry and the Colosseum Archaeological Park (PArCo) said in a joint statement on Wednesday. As a mark of mourning, the Colosseum management initially closed the second-tier sector where the accident occurred to visitors on Wednesday. However Italy's culture minister Alessandro Giuli subsequently ordered the complete closure of the monument. In a statement, the PArCo said: "The first shift of visitors was managed this morning, with thousands of people unaware of the incident. An immediate closure of the entrances would have resulted in a heavy concentration of visitors outside the monument, potentially creating safety issues." The area has not been placed under judicial seizure, the statement said, with authorities currently at work to establish exactly how the accident happened. Moretti, 22, reportedly died after falling from a height of around 10 metres while installing a lighting system inside the Colosseum. Italy's prime minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her condolences to Moretti's family and colleagues, and said she was shocked and saddened by the news. "I also hope that the full facts of the accident will be brought to light as quickly as possible" - Meloni said - "Dying at the age of 22 is unacceptable; it is even more so when it happens in the workplace." Minister Giuli described the death as "a tragic event that leaves us shocked and stunned", offering condolences to Moretti's family and loved ones "in the face of the senseless death of a young man engaged in his work". Article published 23 September at 07.43, updated at 12.12.

A specialist rope-access worker has died following an accident at the Colosseum, prompting Italy's culture ministry and the monument's management to close the ancient amphitheatre to the public. Andrea Moretti, a technician specialised in high-altitude rope work, died overnight in a workplace incident, the Italian culture ministry and the Colosseum Archaeological Park (PArCo) said in a joint statement on Wednesday. As a mark of mourning, the Colosseum management initially closed the second-tier sector where the accident occurred to visitors on Wednesday. However Italy's culture minister Alessandro Giuli subsequently ordered the complete closure of the monument. In a statement, the PArCo said: "The first shift of visitors was managed this morning, with thousands of people unaware of the incident. An immediate closure of the entrances would have resulted in a heavy concentration of visitors outside the monument, potentially creating safety issues." The area has not been placed under judicial seizure, the statement said, with authorities currently at work to establish exactly how the accident happened. Moretti, 22, reportedly died after falling from a height of around 10 metres while installing a lighting system inside the Colosseum. Italy's prime minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her condolences to Moretti's family and colleagues, and said she was shocked and saddened by the news. "I also hope that the full facts of the accident will be brought to light as quickly as possible" - Meloni said - "Dying at the age of 22 is unacceptable; it is even more so when it happens in the workplace." Minister Giuli described the death as "a tragic event that leaves us shocked and stunned", offering condolences to Moretti's family and loved ones "in the face of the senseless death of a young man engaged in his work". Article published 23 September at 07.43, updated at 12.12.