A woman was accidentally crushed to death by her suicidal 70-year-old neighbour after he jumped from a fourth-floor apartment in Italy.

The man, who survived the fall, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after throwing himself from the building and hitting the victim, Francesca Manno, 83.

The tragedy happened on Sunday in Milan at around 6pm when the man climbed over the balcony and jumped off.

He was taken to the Niguarda Hospital emergency room in critical but not life-threatening condition and was treated for multiple leg fractures.

Emergency services rushed to the scene, in the courtyard of the building where the two lived, and tried to save the woman. But all efforts to revive her were unsuccessful.