Brit tourist fighting for his life after 'impaling himself' in Zante

A British holidaymaker is fighting for his life after tripping and getting impaled on a metal fence near a popular beach in Zante, local media reports.

Two fire engines rushed to the scene after the tourist, believed to be around 50- years-old, fell and injured himself on Monday night near a hotel in the south of the island.

An iron spike on the fence reportedly came just millimeters from severing a carotid artery, supplying the brain and head with blood.

The man was taken to Zakynthos hospital with part of the fence still in his neck, according to Greek media reports.

Footage from local television showed a spiked black railing clearly cut where firefighters had come to his rescue. 

The victim is understood to still be intubated in hospital, using an artificial pipe to help him breathe.

Authorities are still trying to work out how the accident happened. 

He was said to have been walking in Agrilia towards Laganas when he fell and was impaled.

The man has not yet been identified. 

In July, a British tourist died after falling head-first while trying to climb off a hotel balcony on Zante.

The 23-year-old man had stepped on to the handrail as he tried to get off of a hotel balcony, local police reported.

He then lost his balance and fell around five feet head-first. 

Local news outlet Parapolitika reported that the man tried to stand up twice but fell over.

He was rushed to Zakynthos hospital, where he later died.

In April, a British tourist died after falling from his hotel balcony in Turkey.

The 21-year-old tragically tripped and fell from his fifth-floor hotel room during a holiday with his 33-year-old girlfriend in the tourist hotspot of Antalya, per local reports.

Police and medics rushed to the scene in the district of Alanya, with the seriously injured tourist being taken to hospital. 

He later died of his injuries despite doctors' best efforts to save his life, according to reports.