NEED TO KNOW
A tourist is dead after falling from the Pantheon in Rome and into a ditch on Oct. 24
The tourist has been identified as Morimasa Hibino, 69, of Japan
Police are currently investigating the fatal incident
A man suffered a fatal fall at an ancient Roman site popular among tourists.
Morimasa Hibino, a 69-year-old from Japan, died after falling from the Pantheon in Rome and into a ditch on Friday, Oct. 24, according to Italian newspaper La Repubblica and CNN, which cited local police.
Hibino, who was identified by the Japanese embassy, was discovered in a ditch near the ancient site in central Rome, according to CNN.
A priest spotted the man lying in the area, located approximately 23 feet below street level, and subsequently contacted authorities in the area, the outlet and La Repubblica reported.
Authorities had to break down a gate in order to access the ditch and retrieve Hibino’s body, according to CNN.
Steve Christo – Corbis/Corbis via Getty
The Pantheon in Rome
Police are currently investigating Hibino’s death, according to the outlets.
A spokesperson for Rome police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Saturday, Oct. 25.
The man’s daughter said he fell after suffering a sudden illness that made him feel dizzy, CNN reported, citing local media coverage.
Early police investigation paints a similar picture, according to La Repubblica.
Hibino was sitting on a parapet when he lost his balance and fell, face-first into the ditch, the Italian newspaper reported, citing initial police findings.
Surveillance footage from cameras near the scene captured the incident, according to the newspaper.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Steve Christo – Corbis/Corbis via Getty
The Pantheon in Rome
No foul play is suspected, a police spokesperson told CNN. According to the outlet, incidents in the area are not entirely uncommon, and police often patrol to make sure pedestrians do not breach the wall protecting the perimeter of the ancient monument.
The Pantheon is one of Italy’s most popular attractions, with millions of tourists estimated to visit the monument each year, according to the BBC.
It was closed at the time of the fatal incident, per CNN.
Read the original article on People