Outrage After Tourist Dives Headfirst into Rome’s Trevi Fountain (Video)

Rome’s famous Trevi Fountain has seen plenty of wishes over the years, but one tourist’s bizarre stunt has locals wishing for tougher punishments.

A 30-year-old tourist from New Zealand sparked outrage after he was filmed jumping headfirst into the historic fountain while fully clothed.

The video reportedly begins with two young women taking selfies in front of the 18th-century landmark. Then, out of nowhere, the man walks up to the edge of the fountain and launches himself straight into the water.

He was wearing jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, shoes, and socks when he took the plunge.

Once inside, the long-haired tourist did not seem eager to leave. He reportedly swam and waded around the ancient basin, even doing the backstroke at one point as stunned visitors watched.

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Authorities ordered him to get out, but he allegedly ignored them and continued splashing around in the world-famous fountain.

The man was eventually fined €500, about $582, and banned from returning to the attraction.

But many people online said that punishment was nowhere near harsh enough.

“€500 is small change,” one Facebook commenter wrote. “If it was €5,000 they would think about it for a while.”

Another person argued the man should have been arrested immediately and forced to pay before being released.

Others blasted the stunt as deeply disrespectful to one of Rome’s most beloved landmarks.

The Trevi Fountain, made famous around the world by Federico Fellini’s classic film La Dolce Vita, has become a repeated target for badly behaved tourists in recent years.

This is not the first time a visitor from New Zealand has caused trouble there. Last winter, another Kiwi tourist was reportedly fined and banned after bathing in the basin.

The chaos has not been limited to people jumping in the water. Earlier this month, three people were hospitalized after a brawl broke out between rival groups near the fountain, forcing bystanders to flee into nearby bars and cafes for safety.

Rome has been trying to control overcrowding and protect the landmark. Over the winter, the city introduced a €2 entrance fee to help reduce congestion and raise money for preservation.

In the first three months, the fee reportedly brought in more than €1.3 million, or over $1.5 million, for the city.

Still, some officials believe the price is surprisingly low for a landmark as famous as the Trevi Fountain.

Alessandro Onorato, Rome’s tourism assessor, said tourists seemed shocked that the city was only charging 2 euros to visit such an iconic site.

“I believe that if the Trevi Fountain were in New York, they would have charged at least $100,” he said.

For now, the latest fountain stunt has only added to growing frustration in Rome, where locals say priceless landmarks should not be treated like personal swimming pools.