A Japanese tourist falls to his death at the Pantheon in Rome

A 69-year-old Japanese tourist has died after falling from the perimeter wall of the Pantheon in Rome, local media reported.

Morimasa Hibino is said to have fallen from a height of about seven meters (22.9 feet) around 21:50 local time (19:50 GMT). A priest who was passing by alerted police when he saw the man lying in the ditch, according to local newspaper la Repubblica.

Emergency services and firefighters reportedly had to force open a gate outside the ancient Roman temple before finding the man dead in a ditch.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of death.

The man was sitting on the edge of the wall, lost his balance and fell, la Repubblica reported, citing police.

Investigators have obtained photos and video from surveillance cameras that look at where the man was sitting, local media reported.

The Pantheon is one of Italy’s most visited attractions, with millions of tourists expected to see it every year.