A young British climber has been killed on the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps.
The 24-year-old was descending the world-famous peak in the early hours of this morning when there was a sudden rock fall.
He was with two other climbers, both of whom were unharmed.
The three mountaineers were on the Hörnli ridge at an altitude of 3,380 metres when suddenly there was a rock fall.
A chunk of rock hit one of the climbers and he was thrown down the mountain.
His climbing companions alerted rescuers who dispatched a helicopter. However, the man had died instantly.
The accident happened at 2.40am.
Valais cantonal police said the public prosecutor has opened an investigation into the tragedy.
The Matterhorn, which straddles Switzerland and Italy, has a pyramidal shape with four faces almost facing the four compass points.
Its distinctive silhouette has made it an iconic emblem of the Swiss Alps.
The summit is 4,478 metres, making it one of the highest mountains in Europe.
It is estimated that 500 alpinists have died on the mountain since the first ascent in 1865.
