Man, 79, dies after cliff fall on pilgrimage

AN elderly Irishman has died while trekking on a pilgrimage in Italy.

The 79-year-old’s body was found at the bottom of a cliff on the Appennino Romagnolo walkway in Monte Forcella.

The pilgrimage trail is 550km and runs from Florence to Rome.

A local newspaper, Forli Today, said the alarm was raised when the man failed to arrive at the farmhouse he had booked to stay in at Modigliana, near Bologna.

A police rescue team launched a search but had to call it off when it got dark.

They believe he may have fallen ill though have not ruled out the possibility he could have lost his balance in strong winds.

Consular assistance is being provided to the family of the man.