A mountain biker died after crashing and falling 200 metres into a ravine.
Andreas Tonelli’s family alerted the authorities after he failed to return home.
He suffered the fatal accident on Tuesday (15 Jul) evening.
READ MORE: Banned driver caught speeding while high on drugs just moments before horror crash
A search operation involving helicopters was launched at around 9pm.
Roughly three hours later, he was found dead in a gully.
The recovery of his body took place the following morning (16 Jul).
Tonelli, 48, had 127,000 followers on Instagram, where he regularly shared videos of his greatest passion – mountain biking.
In 2014, he left what he described as his “boring office job” to become a full-time bike guide.
He had been organising bike trips since 2003 – first across Italy, then throughout Europe, and eventually all over the world.
A keen photographer, he had also enjoyed hiking and climbing since childhood, as reported by Need To Know.
The accident occurred in the Vallunga area of the Italian Dolomites, as he was tackling a difficult section alone.
Just moments before the fatal fall, he posted an Instagram Story showing himself smiling at the summit.
Tonelli was born in the tiny village of Völs am Schlern, at the foot of the iconic Schlern mountain.
“But since I spend seven months a year travelling,” he once wrote, “I also call home all the other places in the world where I feel happy and free.”
READ MORE: Festival reveller returns to car to find window smashed and belongings stolen
