Risk-taking tourists have been warned to stop cliff-diving after a man plunged to his death Sunday afternoon. Francesco Aronica, 23, jumped off a 20-foot cliff while traveling in Polignano a Mare, a popular tourist spot, before hitting his head and losing consciousness. Emergency responders defibrillated him while rushing to a nearby hospital, but Aronica went into cardiac arrest and died at the hospital. His death has upset residents who are calling for greater regulations to prevent similar stunts, though officials have said nothing can stop people from jumping off cliffs. Many amateur cliff-divers are inspired by professional competitors in Red Bull’s Cliff Diving World Series, which was held in the same location in June. “It is a different thing when the professionals do it, they have the equipment, the support,” Anna De Donato, the president of Polignano a Mare’s town council, toldThe Telegraph. “The tourists need to pay attention and avoid being reckless.” Aronica was a talented athlete that played American football in his hometown for the Catania Elephants. A club spokesperson said in a tribute, “Francesco was not just a teammate: he was a friend, a brother, part of our family. His passion, energy, and smile will forever remain in the hearts of all who were lucky enough to know him.”
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