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Man Climbs Milan's Pirellone Tower Again, Taken to Hospital

man in black t-shirt climbing on brown rock during daytime
Photo by Daniel Jiménez on Unsplash
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Listen to the story

A 35-year-old man climbed the facade of the Pirellone, one of Milan's most famous skyscrapers, according to local reports.

This is not the first time he has done this kind of climb on the same building.

After coming down, he was taken to hospital, though his exact condition has not been reported.

The reason for the climb is unknown.

In a separate incident, someone attempted to harm themselves on Milan's metro system.

The event happened on the M1 line near Sesto San Giovanni, a town close to Milan.

The person went onto the tracks in front of an oncoming train.

The train driver managed to brake in time, avoiding a tragedy.

Thanks to the driver's fast reaction, the person was not hurt.

Local news outlets reported both events as part of a busy day for Milan's emergency services.

Details about the causes behind either event have not been made public.

Authorities have not released further information about the man or the metro incident.

Both cases show the importance of quick action from transport workers and rescue teams.

No further details, such as names or specific medical conditions, have been shared with the public.

Vocabulary10 words

facade
the outside wall of a building
skyscraper
a very tall building in a city
incident
an event, often unexpected or serious
tracks
the metal lines a train travels on
brake
to slow down or stop a vehicle
emergency
a sudden situation that needs quick help
rescue
an action to save someone from danger
attempt
to try to do something
authorities
people or groups in charge, like police
reaction
something you do quickly in response to an event

Quiz

1. What building did the 35-year-old man climb?
2. What stopped the metro incident from becoming a tragedy?
3. True or False: This was the man's first time climbing the Pirellone.

Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

A 35-year-old man climbed the _____ of the Pirellone, one of Milan's most famous _____, according to local reports.

This is not the first time he has done this kind of _____ on the same building.

After coming down, he was taken to _____, though his exact condition has not been reported.

In a separate _____, someone attempted to harm themselves on Milan's metro system.

The event happened on the M1 line near Sesto San _____, a town close to Milan.

The person went onto the _____ in front of an oncoming train.

The train driver managed to _____ in time, avoiding a tragedy.

Thanks to the driver's fast _____, the person was not hurt.

Local news outlets reported both events as part of a busy day for Milan's _____ services.

Authorities have not released further information about the man or the metro _____.

Discussion questions

  1. Why do you think people sometimes climb tall buildings like the Pirellone?
  2. How important is the quick thinking of workers like train drivers in emergencies?
  3. What kind of support do you think cities should offer people in crisis?
  4. Have you heard of similar incidents in your own city or country?

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