Mountaineer found dead in Peru after fall

An experienced Italian mountaineer has been found dead in Peru after he fell while trying to scale an Andean peak at an altitude of more than 5,000 meters, the South American country's Association of Mountain Guides said.

Tomas Franchini, 35, fell Sunday as he was climbing the northeast face of Nevado Cashan peak, which rises to 5,716 meters (18,753 feet) in Peru's central region of Ancash.

The AGMP said in a statement his body was recovered on Monday afternoon.

"His legacy as a mountaineer and his passion for the mountain will remain etched in the memory of those who knew him," it added.

Franchini was twice nominated for the Piolets d'Or, an annual climbing award.

The mountains of northeastern Peru, home to snowy peaks such as Huascaran (6,768 m) and Cashan, are a favorite with mountaineers from around the world.

In May, the body of an Israeli hiker was found in the mountains nearly a month after he disappeared. (AFP)