A young man has been fatally crushed after a statue erected in honour of Pope John Paul II in northern Italy fell on top of him.

The man, (21) Marco Gusmini, died instantly and a second man was taken to hospital after the 30m sculpture fell on top of him.

The sculpture, near the town of Cevo, has a large curved cross with a large statue of Jesus Christ fixed to the top.

It was designed by sculptor Enrico Job and erected to commemorate the Pope’s visit to the area in 1998.

John Paul II and his predecessor Pope John XXIII, are due to be canonised on Sunday.

It is the second death from a falling crucifix in Italy.

In 2004 it was reported that a 72-year old woman had been crushed to death by a 2 metre tall metal crucifix in the town of Sant’Onofrio.