Milan, May 18 (IANS/AKI): A 33-year-old man allegedly stabbed his 23-year-old former girlfriend to death near Milan in a frenzied attack and then tried to kill himself.

Arturo Saraceno, originally from the southern Basilicata region, was taken to hospital in critical condition after he plunged a knife into his heart at the block of flats in Magnago where the couple had lived.

Saraceno allegedly stabbed his girlfriend 15 times all over her body during an argument in the hallway of the apartment building before trying to kill himself.

Emergency services called to the scene found Saraceno collapsed and close to death near the entrance to the apartment building, where the couple had shared an apartment for four years.

Neighbours found Saraceno's girlfriend's lifeless body and paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.

Saraceno and his girlfriend argued continuously, according to neighbours. The couple had decided to break up last week.