Mystery surrounds the death of a British man in an Italian hotel room as his companion 'fights for her life' in hospital.
Reports say the 40-year-old tourist died of a heart attack in in Vicolo dell'Oro in the heart of Florence.
The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear, but his partner is reportedly fighting for life and being given medical treatmen t the Careggi hospital in the city.
Initial reports said there were screams coming from the couple's room which alarmed hotel workers and other guests in the building.
The police were alerted about what happened after the arrival of the two tourists last night.
Emergency services were called and the woman was said to be in a "very serious condition" when they arrived.
She was taken to hospital and briefly regained consciousness before she was taken to surgery for her injuries.
Reports say they may have come from blow, but the incident prompted the arrival of forensic teams and a medical examiner who were called to the Continentale hotel in Florence.
Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the man's death and also speculating what happened to the woman.
One theory being discussed is that there was a quarrel between the couple which ended in violently.
But another theory being investigated is the possibility of an erotic game between the two which went wrong.
This has not yet been ruled out by investigating officers.
Italian newspaper La Nazione reports "Among the hypotheses that still have to be confirmed by the investigators is that of a quarrel between the two tourists which culminated in violence.
"Yet, the hypothesis of an erotic game that ended badly is not excluded." .
The Mirror told last year how a British man has been found dead in an Italian lake near where an illegal and "villainous" rave has been held.
Gianluca Santiago, 24 and born in London, had dived into the Lake Mezzano in the central Italian province of Viterbo on Sunday evening.
According to local news outlets, a massive illegal rave attracting up to 8,000 people has been taking place on private farmland nearby since Friday.
It is believed that Santiago had been at the illegal event on Sunday when he decided to dive into the lake to get some respite from the scorching temperatures battering Italy.
Santiago, who lived in the UK before moving to Reggio Emilia last year, went swimming at about 7:30pm, but when he failed to resurface his alarmed friends called the emergency services.
The whole area was searched before his body was recovered 60 metres from the shore the next day.
A post-mortem examination will be carried out to determine his cause of death and whether he had had alcohol or drugs ahead of diving into the lake.
Stefano Bigiotti, mayor of the neighbouring town of Valentano, has now called on the interior minister to “restore a situation of legality” as he hopes those responsible for the "villainous and embarrassing" event are identified and held to account.
