Harrowing moment pals cling to each other in final embrace before being swept away by horror flash floods in Italy

TRAGIC footage captured the moment three friends clung onto each other in the middle of a raging flood before being swept away.

The couple and their friend, all in their 20s, were last seen alive in the swirling Natisone river near Udine, in northern Italy.

Harrowing footage shows the trio clinging to each other for safety

They can be seen tilting slightly as they fight to remain upright

The three friends stand on a tiny island in the middle of the flooded river

Patrizia Cormos, 20, her friend Bianca Doros, 23, and her boyfriend Cristian Molnar, 25, had all gone for a walk along the river in Friuli on Friday.

Gut-wrenching footage later filmed by bystanders showed them crowding on a tiny island in the middle of the flooded river.

Unable to get to safety on either riverbank, the trio stood there for as long as possible before being swept away.

According to reports, they had walked out to the small island easily in dry conditions before it had flooded.

Firefighter chief Giorgio Basile said: “We threw them a rope, but they were literally swallowed up by the flood waters in front of our eyes. We watched them disappear.”

He added: “The main element is not so much the rain, it is the power of the river, the very strong currents.

“There are gorges, there is a backwash of water and even for the experts it is a particularly treacherous task.”

One of the women had called police at around 1.35pm and emergency services rushed to the scene at Roman Bridge.

A firefighter told them to stay close to one another from the bridge before they were separated in the water.

He shouted: “Stay together, gather together, hug each other”.

Bianca Doros, 23, was out for a walk with her friend and her friend’s boyfriend

Cristian Molnar, 25, is still missing

Patrizia Cormos, 20, was recovered on Sunday along with Bianca Doros

Firefighters could be seen lowering a crane above the racing torrents to try and rescue them, with no success.

A helicopter also arrived at the scene according to reports, but about a minute and a half after the trio disappeared.

Rescue workers have been scouring the river with drones, boats and drivers since Friday to find them.

Yesterday two bodies, thought to be Ms Cormos and Ms Doros, were recovered around 1km from where they were last seen.

Ms Doros was from Romania and was apparently visiting her family in Italy when tragedy struck.

Mr Molnar, who is yet to be found, is also Romanian.

A handbag was found in the river containing the phone used by one of the women to make an emergency call.

Deputy chief of the Udine Fire Brigade Sergio Benedetti said: “The searches continue with all the resources we have in the field.

“We won’t stop until we find the third missing person. The hope, although reduced, is to find him still alive.”

He added: “The conditions of the river are gradually improving because the water, albeit very slowly, is now decreasing.

“The first body was found by the firefighters with qualifications in river techniques, searching the river, while the second was recovered by the Civil Protection volunteers.”

Friuli governer Venezia-Giulia Massimiliano Fedriga expressed his condolences over their tragic deaths.

He said: “The regional Administration – in the words of the governor and the councillor for Civil Protection – expresses its thanks to the firefighters, Civil Protection volunteers and anyone involved in the search.”

Alamy

Roman Bridge across the Natisone river in Friuli, Italy[/caption]

EPA

Heavy flooding has hit Italy in recent weeks – pictured: Turin[/caption]