Inebriated Canadian tourist killed by tram at Oktoberfest: police

A Canadian visitor to the Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich died at the weekend after he was knocked down by a tram while in a drunken state, police said on Monday.

The 26-year-old, who was not named, was trying to cross the tram line at approximately 7:15 pm (1515 GMT) on Saturday between two cars stuck in a traffic jam while "in a drunken state," authorities said in a statement.

He failed to notice the tram approaching from his left and was hit head-on.

"He was taken to hospital and attempts were made to resuscitate him on the way but he died a short time later," the police said.

Every year, around seven million people from all over the world come to the southern German city of Munich for a 16-day party, during which roughly the same number of "Mass" (litre-sized glasses) of beer are consumed.

At the half-way stage this year, some 3.6 million people have visited the Oktoberfest, with the same volume of litres of beer downed, city authorities said at the weekend.