VIENNA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- A Swedish soldier died during ice climbing in Austria on Thursday, the Austrian news agency APA reported Friday.
The 31-year-old soldier was struck by a large icicle that broke off above him while ice climbing with two other trainees and an instructor in Kaprun, southwestern Austria's Salzburg region, and died at the scene, police said.
Others managed to dodge the falling icicle and immediately alerted emergency services, administering first aid on the spot. Despite resuscitation efforts, the emergency physician pronounced him dead at the scene.
The mountain police are conducting further investigations into the exact circumstances of the accident. The body has been transferred to his home country by the Austrian armed forces. ■