A British parkour group, banned from Venice for previous stunts, has now been accused of damaging a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southern Italy. Team Phat, a nine-person group from London, gained notoriety for posting viral videos of their members performing daring leaps around public buildings and monuments.
One of their members, 23-year-old Devon McIntosh, was filmed jumping from a roof in Matera, resulting in a section of the building breaking. Matera, an ancient city in Basilicata, boasts a rich history dating back 10,000 years. Its cave-dwelling city, known as the Sassi di Matera, features a unique urban core carved into the mountain rock.
Matera’s Sassi buildings, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, are considered one of Europe’s most remarkable ancient architectural sites. McIntosh’s failed jump shattered part of a preserved building within this historic area. During the jump from a roof to a ledge, the roof slab gave way, sending McIntosh tumbling. Fortunately, he sustained only minor injuries.
The incident sparked widespread criticism. One Instagram user, an Italian parkour enthusiast, commented, “Even if the spots are crazy, Matera should not be used as a parkour park. That stone could have been there before the discovery of America or even earlier. This city is a UNESCO heritage site for a reason. We should enjoy our discipline as much as possible, but we should also watch where we step, not only for safety but also for respect of culture and history.”
Other comments on Team Phat’s Instagram post echoed similar sentiments. “I love you guys and you’re such an inspiration to me, but I think that’s why a lot of older people hate us; destroying stuff just for fun is such a selfish thing and this little town looks so nice. Was this really necessary?” one user wrote.
Despite the criticism, a video of McIntosh’s other exploits in Matera posted on his personal Instagram page received positive feedback. One user wrote, “so cool to see people jumping there again🤩”.
Team Phat member Klaus Guip explained their choice of Matera: “We’ve been banned from Venice, so we can never go back.” The group’s previous stunts in Venice in 2023 triggered a city-wide manhunt. One member was filmed jumping from a building into the canals, prompting Mayor Luigi Brugnaro to label him a “delinquent” who “risked his life.”
“They don’t understand the danger they create in this city. What if a boat would have been passing below?” Brugnaro continued. He ordered Venice police to track down the free-runner and subsequently banned them from returning to the city.
