British schoolboy Elliot Peacock killed in Italian alps waterfall canyoning accident

The 15-year-old boy, who has not been named, was part of a group visiting the Lillaz waterfalls near Cogne

The 15-year-old boy, who has not been named, was part of a group visiting the Lillaz waterfalls near Cogne (CORBIS)

A British teenager has been killed in the Italian alps after suffering serious injuries in a canyoning accident.

The 15-year-old boy, named by Italian police as Elliot Peacock, was part of a group visiting the Lillaz waterfalls near Cogne, Corriere della Sera reported.

It is believed he hit rocks near to the waterfall, which is close Mount Blanc on the Italian-French border, just after 4pm on Sunday afternoon.

He died despite the efforts of paramedics after a helicopter was scrambled to the scene. Some reports have suggested that weather conditions in the popular tourist area were poor when the accident happened.

The boy was visiting the falls to take part in canyoning, which involves climbing water-filled canyons.

According to the Telegraph the boy was diving with friends into the pools around the falls, which rise to an altitude of 1,800 metres, when he suffered fatal injuries.

The exact circumstances of his death are so far unclear. A mountain rescue spokesman told Sky News: "He was in a group with a number of other British children and adults.

"I'm not sure if it was a school party or some other organised trip. He was wearing a helmet and suit and appears to have got into some sort of difficulty while jumping between the waterfalls that are there in the river.

"The initial theory is that he smashed into some sort of obstruction. Paramedics were quickly on the scene and they tried for an hour to revive him but there was nothing they could do. He was declared dead at the scene."

Officials described the fatal injury as 'abdominal trauma'.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We are aware of an incident involving a British national in Italy, and stand ready to provide consular assistance."