US hiker dies after being struck by lightning on Mount Etna
The 30-year-old was on the active volcano when a thunderstorm developed, local media report.
An American hiker has died after being struck by lightning on Sicily's Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, which has experienced a series of eruptions in recent weeks.
The 30-year-old tourist, whose identity has not been released by authorities, was on the active volcano on Sunday when a thunderstorm erupted, according to Italian media.
Firefighters and emergency services reportedly discovered the man in cardiac arrest around 8:00 PM local time (6:00 PM GMT) in a restricted zone sometimes utilized to approach the summit. He was transported by helicopter to Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania but was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Recent eruptions from Mount Etna have caused disruptions to local air traffic but have also attracted numerous tourists.
Due to heightened volcanic activity, authorities have been restricting access to more areas of Etna, including the upper slopes where there is minimal shelter above the tree line.
Italy's civil protection agency cautions that the combination of volcanic activity and abrupt weather shifts higher up the mountain can create dangerous conditions. Approximately 1.5 million people visit Etna annually.
Eruptions have drawn many tourists to Etna's slopes in recent weeks. Ash from the eruptions has clouded the skies over eastern Sicily and disrupted hundreds of flights at Catania International Airport in the past week.
An aviation alert was downgraded on Saturday from the highest warning level of red to orange.
Watch: Mount Etna eruption creates trail of bright orange lava