A British tourist was seriously injured after a gas explosion destroyed a B&B with three floors in Rome.
Grant Paterson, 54, of East Kilbride in South Lanarkshire, was reportedly burned on Sunday morning after the explosion in the Monteverde area of the Italian city.
Mr. Paterson was pulled from the ruins by firefighters, but it is thought to have sustained third -degree burns up to 75% of his body, according to local news website Roma today.
Photo: Firefighters
He is currently conducting treatment at Sant’s Hospital.
The Office for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development (FCDO) said it supported Mr. Paterson’s family and is in contact with the local authorities.
Sky News understands that Mr. Paterson arrived in Rome on March 17 and that he would return home on Monday.
Posts on social media show that he visited famous tourist places such as The Colosseum and the Pantheon before the incident.
He wrote that he had arrived in RomeAdd: “Accommodation is beautiful.
“It must be a good week … if I am not killed in a wicked way.”
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Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri visited the scene and told reporters that he had ordered a full investigation into the explosion.
He said: “Most importantly, there are fortunately no victims, although one person was unfortunately seriously injured.
“He is probably a guest of a hospitality facility, of Scottish origin.
“We do not know his exact condition, but he sustained burns, and it also indicates that it was an explosion caused by gas, which also causes flames.
“It was a very loud explosion, a building collapsed and the wall of Villa Pamphili was also damaged.”
