Brit tourist dies of a heart attack after climbing 842 steps to clifftop church
A tourist in his 70s has died of a heart attack after climbing hundreds of steps to reach a scenic clifftop church.
The Brit, who hasn’t been named yet, collapsed after climbing to the hamlet of San Rocco on Mount Portofino in northern Italy on Tuesday.
Emergency services were called after he climbed 842 steps and then collapsed in the churchyard, but despite their best efforts they were unable to resuscitate him, MailOnline reports.
The clifftop churchyard is a popular spot for hikers in Italy, and there were reportedly a number of other tourists in the area when he collapsed.
The tourist is believed to have walked from nearby Camogli to San Rocco on the Via San Rocco, a paved walk that is less than a mile long, and has a max elevation of 660ft.
According to Hiker Project, a hike rating platform, the last third of the hike is particularly difficult, with gradients of up to 22 degrees.
The hike is listed as ‘intermediate’ on Hiker Project.
San Rocco is popular with hikers, who often start at the village before walking through the area.
It sits roughly 980ft above sea level, and offers elevated views of the Ligurian Sea.
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