Russian’s leg nearly severed as Rome escalator ruptures
A Russian football fan had to have part of his lower leg amputated after escalator stairs crumpled at a metro station in Rome.
The packed escalator suddenly sped up and the bottom steps ruptured, causing his foot to be partially severed as passengers were thrown into each other.
He was taken to hospital for an amputation, Milan’s Corriere Della Sera newspaper reported, and 23 others were also injured. Some had become trapped in the metal plates of the steps.
A witness said they heard a “roar” and there was “no time” to stop people being injured.
“The scene that we found was people piled up at the bottom of the escalator,” said Rome fire chief Giampietro Boscaino. “People one on the top of the other looking for help. They had various injuries caused by the escalator that was twisted, therefore serious injuries.” Most of those injured were Russian football fans in town ahead of a Champions League game between CSKA Moscow and Roma. Firefighters said seven were in a serious condition.
A video of the accident on state TV showed passengers on the escalator opposite trying to pull others to safety, while some jumped on to the steep central reservation.
In a separate incident, one CSKA fan was slashed with a knife during clashes with opposing fans outside the Stadio Olimpico. Around 1,500 Russian fans were attending the match.