Austrian Alps deaths: Two British men in high-speed race plunge into 300m ravine

Two British men in their 20s were killed when a car they were illegally racing through the Austrian Alps veered off a pass near the top of the country's highest mountain and into a ravine.

The accident happened near the top of the 2,504m (8,215ft) Grossglockner Alpine pass at about 7:45am on Friday 24 July, police said.

The men, aged 22 and 25, were racing a Seat against a Porsche when their vehicle skidded to the right, broke through a crash barrier and plummeted 300m (1,000ft).

Helicopters were used to recover the bodies of the men who are believed to have been killed immediately, reports The Local newspaper.

It is not known if the race was prearranged, or spontaneous.

A police spokesman said the cars reached speeds of 120mph before crashing.

The driver of the Porsche, who initially fled the scene, later gave himself in at a police station, Austrian media reported.

The Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse road is only open for six months of the year, and is known for its stunning views and treacherous bends.

It leads from the town of Bruck, near Salzburg to the Grossglockner mountain, which at 3,798m is Austria's highest.