A 42-year-old Australian BASE jumper has died in a suspected accident in the Italian Dolomites, news agency ANSA reports.
The man reportedly crashed on Wednesday after jumping from a prominent rocky peak in the Dolomites near the South Tyrolean border, the Sass Pordoi.
Investigators suspect that the parachute didn't open in time due to a technical issue, the news agency said, citing initial findings.
BASE jumping refers to the extreme sport of jumping off elevated fixed objects using parachutes or wingsuits, with the word an acronym for building, antenna, span and earth.
According to ANSA, the man hit the ground around 400 metres away from the intended landing site.
The group of fellow Australians he was with alerted the rescue services. A mountain rescue team and a helicopter were deployed.
BASE jumping is illegal in Australia, specifically in national parks and on private property without permission.