Horror as three climbers plunge to their deaths within a week off 14,700ft mountain as investigation launched

THREE people have fallen to their deaths in the same week after attempting to climb an infamous 14,700ft mountain.

The Swiss Matterhorn attracts thousands every year, but a recent spate of tragic accidents has hit the alpine spot with cops launching an investigation.

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The Matterhorn in the Alps is one of the tallest mountains in Europe[/caption]

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Almost 600 people have died trying to climb the infamous peak[/caption]

Each of the three people died within just days of each other, with none of them yet identified.

One of them, a man, died on Friday with cops saying he was likely alone on the enormous mountain.

He made it a whopping 13,000ft up the Matterhorn before losing his footing and falling 2,600ft to a glacier below.

The other two left a hut on the mountain on Wednesday morning to make the climb down the summit.

When they failed to come back as planned, a search and rescue operation was launched.

They were later found dead by a rescue helicopter on the north face of the enormous mountain, having fallen 3,200ft.

Tragically the owner of the accommodation they were staying in said a thunderstorm had struck a few hours after they left.

He added: “It probably caught them.”

They had left to climb the Hornli ridge – the most popular Matterhorn route on its Swiss side.

The Matterhorn straddles the Alps border between Italy and Switzerland.

It’s summit is an incredible 14,692ft above sea level, making it one of the tallest in Europe.

It has four steep faces, towering above fields of glaciers below and edged by steep ridges.

Almost 600 people have died while climbing the mountain.

Between 2,500 and 3,000 people try to hike it every year.