Dozens of witnesses reportedly looked on in horror as a U.S. tourist visiting Rome screamed in pain after impaling himself on a metal fence at the Colosseum.

The man — a 47-year-old American citizen living in Taiwan — was stabbed in the spine while attempting to climb over the historic monument’s fence. He was possibly attempting to get a better view, according to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero.

The unidentified man — who was unable to speak for hours after the incident — was on vacation with family and friends and had only been in Rome for a few days, Il Messaggero reported.

Law enforcement and paramedics quickly arrived at the scene, Il Messaggero reported. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The horrifying incident took place less than a week after Pope Francis was laid to rest in Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore. The April 26 funeral ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica drew more than 250,000 mourners from across the globe to the country’s capital, according to the Vatican.

Italy’s Civil Protection Department and police force Polizia di Stato did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.