Man rescued from Basilica dome

Firefighters overpowered a man who had been perched for hours on the side of the soaring dome of St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City this afternoon, bringing him to safety.

Firefighters, a bishop and other clergymen had been trying to persuade him to return to safety when firefighters suddenly scrambled over the railing, overpowered the man and heaved him back, upside down, over the rail and on to the terrace.