Accident at photo hotspot: German tourist falls to his death in Madeira

Madeira (Portugal) - A young German tourist has fallen some 200 meters to his death from a mountain on the Portuguese island of Madeira . According to Portuguese media reports, he lost his balance while taking photographs.

According to the newspaper"Diário de Notícias", the man climbed over a barrier near the summit of the almost 1,800-metre-high "Pico do Areeiro" early on Thursday afternoon and lost his footing.

The young German was visiting the "Miradouro Pedra Rija" viewpoint together with three other people.

The search for the accident victim proved difficult due to the terrain, it was reported. A total of 40 emergency personnel, including drones, were involved in the operation. A helicopter was unable to take off due to the weather conditions.

In the evening, the state TV station"RTP3" and"Diário de Notícias" reported on the man's death, citing the mountain rescue service.

It was not initially known which region of Germany the young man came from. Following the incident, the "Vereda do Pico do Areeiro" hiking trail was temporarily closed.Pico do Areeiro is one of the most visited peaks on the island.