Man slept on Rome baggage belt for 160ft before being identified

on 09/08/2012 15:17:17

Airport officials in Rome have been forced to defend security procedures after a drunk Norwegian tourist fell asleep on a baggage belt and travelled 160 feet before being identified by an X-ray scanner.

The 36-year-old, who's not been named, arrived at Italy's busiest airport at the end of last month with a backpack and a can of beer in his hand.

The tourist appeared to have fallen asleep on the belt and travelled for 15 minutes before officials spotted his body curled up in a foetal position on their monitors.

Police officers, who were concerned about his exposure to X-rays, took him to hospital before reporting him to prosecutors for causing alarm.

Their inquiries are continuing.