30 January 2023 , 00:48
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A Polish tourist was whacked over the head with a large wooden stick after sparking fury by climbing the steps of an ancient Mayan temple in Mexico.
In November a female Mexican holidaymaker was insulted and pelted with water bottles after being surrounded by an angry crowd as she descended the steps of the off-limits Temple of Kukulcan at the Yucatan State archaeological site of Chichen Itza.
On Saturday the unnamed Polish adventurer became the latest visitor to feel the wrath of locals and other tourists after breaching a ban on ascending the 82ft pyramid.
Footage taken by onlookers showed him being escorted down the steps by two security guards before being surrounded and abused.
Moments later a bare-chested man in shorts and sandals, seen resting a long stick on his shoulder as the tourist descended the pyramid, approached him from behind and whacked him over the back of the head with the weapon.
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The tourist was reportedly held in custody for several hours and fined (@MerGarza/Twitter)The Polish holidaymaker, said to have been fined 5,000 pesos (£212) after being held in custody for around 12 hours, appeared to be momentarily stunned and looked back behind him while covering his head with his hands but seemed to make no attempt to retaliate.
He is understood to have told the authorities he accessed the non-authorised area to take photos and post them on his social media.
Local reports described the stick-holder as another tourist, although it was not immediately clear if he was Mexican or a foreigner.
The Mexican woman who found herself in hot water in November after the same stunt also received the same fine of just over £200 after being held for several hours.
She was named locally at the time as 29-year-old Abigail Villalobos, and nicknamed Lady Chichen Itza.
As she descended the steps, she danced upon one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and appeared to pose for photos.
Some in the angry crowd below began chanting “Jail, jail, jail” and “Lock her up” as she was brought down.
An elderly woman briefly stopped her and pulled her hair while other tourists poured water over her.
It was not clear whether the man with the stick was another tourist (@MerGarza/Twitter)The latest incident has been described as the first so far this year.
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The Temple of Kukulcan is a Mesoamerican step-pyramid that dominates the centre of the Chichen Itza archaeological site.
It is more formally designated by archaeologists as Chichen Itza Structure 5B18. All four sides of the temple have approximately 91 steps. Climbing them has been banned since 2008.