Boy dies in Austria mountain fall
A British schoolboy has fallen to his death in a mountainous region of southern Austria.

Hayden Waller, 12, fell and broke his neck while hiking with three friends near Mallnitz in the southern Austrian province of Carinthia on Monday afternoon, Medway Council said.

Paul Morris, his headmaster at The Howard School in Gillingham, Kent, sent his "deepest sympathies" to the youngster's family and friends.

Mr Morris said staff and pupils were "completely devastated" by Hayden's death. He said: "I would like to send my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Hayden Waller. Everyone connected with the school is completely devastated."

Rose Collinson, director of children's services at the council, said it would play a "full part" in the investigation in to the youngster's death.

Hayden was walking with three friends to a local beauty spot. The four were trekking a short distance up the mountain from their hotel to the viewpoint, but strayed from the path, police said.

Hayden lost his footing and fell about 30 feet, hitting his head on rocks. He died instantly from a broken neck and severe head injuries, police said.

Local police spokesman Herbert Rud said the walk to the hut would have been about 700 metres by the path, and 500 metres across the steep open ground.

"It happened during the late afternoon at a time when the youngsters can enjoy themselves, by going shopping, for example, but the boys decided to go up to the hut."

Emergency services and a rescue helicopter attended but found the boy dead, local reports said.