Bodies of mountaineers found dangling by climbing ropes in Alps – but the cause of the fall is a mystery

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The two Austrian mountaineers were discovered at an altitude of 6,600ft in the Italian Alps

The Rio Freddo River in the foreground of the Italian Julian Alps
The Italian Julian Alps (Image credit: Getty Images Robert Pavsic)

 Two Austrian mountaineers who went missing earlier this week have been found dead, still anchored to the side of the mountain they were scaling.

The men, who were both Alpine rescuers, were reported missing on Wednesday July 31. They were climbing the 8,200-foot Cima di Riofreddo on Via Comici at Cima di Riofreddo, in Italy's Julian Alps when it's believed they fell.

Their bodies were still partially anchored to the mountainside when they were found the following morning during a helicopter search by rescuers.

Posted by soccorsoalpinofvg on 

In a Facebook post the Italian rescue service has said that the cause of the fall was unclear, suggesting that it could have been due to human error or a potential rockslide. 

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Charlie Lyon
Charlie Lyon
Advnture contributor

Charlie is a freelance writer and editor with a passion for hiking, biking, wild swimming and active travel. She recently moved from Bristol to South Wales and now refuses to leave home without one of the following: lightweight hikers, wetsuit, mountain bike, tent. Having bought a fixer-upper that backs on to protected woodland, her love of nature and wildlife has intensified and the dark skies have kickstarted a new fondness for stargazing.