John Paul II crucifix crushes man in Italy

A crucifix erected in honour of Pope John Paul II in northern Italy has collapsed crushing a 21-year-old man and injuring another.

The installation, near the town of Cevo, was designed as a large curved cross with a statue of Jesus Christ, weighing 600kg (1,320lb), fixed to the top.

A witness has described hearing a "loud rumble" as part of the 30m-high (100ft) sculpture fell to the ground.

It is not the first death caused by a falling crucifix in Italy.

In 2004, the Associated Press reported that a 72-year old woman had been crushed to death by a 7ft-tall metal crucifix in the town of Sant'Onofrio in the south of the country.

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