American hiker dies after lightning strike on Italy's Mount Etna

A 30-year-old American visitor died on Sunday after being struck by lightning while hiking on Mount Etna, the active volcano in Italy. He had entered a prohibited zone in an effort to approach the summit when a strong storm moved over the mountain. Helicopter-borne rescuers found him in cardiac arrest and transferred him to Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania, where doctors were unable to restore his pulse.

The tragedy comes as Etna experiences a surge of lava flows and ash emissions that have clouded eastern Sicily and halted flights at Catania International Airport. Italy's Civil Protection agency warns that the rapid ascent from sea level to high altitude can produce abrupt weather shifts, prompting recent limits on access to the higher, shelter-less terrain. On the same day, another lightning strike claimed the life of an Italian man hiking in the South Tyrol Alps.