A tourist has tragically died after falling 300 feet from a ladder bridge in the Austrian mountains, plummeting into the valley below.
The 42-year-old British man who has not been named was alone on the 130-foot ladder when he got into difficulty and fell while getting off on September 12, according to reports from the Daily Mail.
The aerial ladder is reportedly popular with social media users wanting to capture striking Instagram photos and is known as a via ferrata, or 'iron path', and runs on the Gosaukamm in the Dachstein Mountains near Salzburg, Austria.
Two helicopter crews alongside many officers from Hallein Alpine and Abtenau police attended in the wake of the incident, Salzburg State Police told the outlet, however, the man could not be saved.
Rescuers retrieved his body from the valley below and investigators have ruled out third-party negligence according to the Daily Mail.
The ladder connects the lower portion of the Donnerkogel mountain to the Großer (greater) Donnerkogel, which includes the 6,740-foot peak.
The via ferrata is run by Intersport and uses steel cables, rungs, pegs, and ladders which the climbers are attached to with a harness for their safety while crossing.
Climbing experts have reported that the climb is "very exposed" and is rated "moderate/difficult" and "not ideal for beginners".
The Dachstein tourism website states that it is the "new TOP attraction on the Zwieselalm for climbing enthusiasts" with the ascent being completed in four stages with the 40-meter ladder being touted as the "ultimate adrenaline kick."
Just four people are allowed to be on the ladder at any one time, with tourists being advised to plan ahead in case of poor weather as the trail can become slippers and the wire rope anchorages can be lightning rods in a storm.
The via ferrata has become a hugely popular destination for social media users due to its breathtaking backdrops and scenery.
Thousands of posts have flooded Instagram from the area, including a terrifying video of extreme athlete Stefanie Millinger taking on the ladder without a harness.
In the clip, she is wearing a ballet costume and hangs off one hand in the middle of the ladder, pedalling her legs in the air below her.
The post was also captioned with a warning telling users: "Please don‘t try to do this, @stefaniemillinger is a pro!"
It then added: "Donnerkogel Klettersteig: The Donnerkogel via ferrata with the ladder to heaven is one of the most beautiful in the Salzkammergut."
While the idyllic scenery brings tourism to the area, locals have reportedly become frustrated with the amount of visitors flocking to the area.
In May, Hallstatt - a small hamlet - closed down its lakefront view after it was swarmed by tourists who believe it was the inspiration for many of the scenes depicting Arendelle in the 2013 Disney film Frozen.
The town is home to just 750 permanent residents but was visited by over 7,000 outsiders per day according to Mayor Alexander Scheutz.
