A German extreme athlete died in Switzerland after jumping off a high mountain cliff.
According to the police, the 48-year-old base jumper started from a jump point in the Lauterbrunnen valley in the canton of Bern.
For reasons that are still unclear, he then hit the rock face several times and then fell uncontrollably.
Alpine rescuers could only save the man dead.
As the authorities announced, the formal identification of the fatality is still pending.
The cantonal police in Bern have started investigations into the exact cause of the accident.
Base jumping is parachuting from tall buildings, antennas, bridges or rocks.
Deaths occur time and again.
The athlete who has now had an accident chose the "High Ultimate" jump point, from which it descends a total of 720 meters.
According to the sports association Swiss Base Association, there have already been many fatal cliff contacts at this difficult point.
Since the beginning of 2017, the police have reported fifteen fatal accidents involving base jumpers throughout the canton of Bern.
hba/dpa