The small Hungarian party of three were trying to climb the north face of the Batognica peak in Slovenia when one of the group slipped on the ice and plunged more than 200m to his death.

The other two members of the climbing party - also Hungarian - were not injured but were helpless and unable to save their partner once he lost his hold.

Although emergency services arrived on the scene quickly, they were unable to save the man's life.  Both his body and the other two Hungarians were airlifted from the side of the mountain by helicopter.

According to the authorities, the Hungarians were not adequately prepared for the conditions that they faced and lacked vital equipment that they needed.  They had attempted the climb with only sticks and cramp-ons and did not even have ice axes for safety.

The Julian Alps stretch from north-eastern Italy to Slovenia and are named after Julius Caesar.  The highest peak is the Triglav, at 2864m.

Read this article in Hungarian