Story By: Kathryn Quinn, Sub-Editor:  Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News 

A man has died after his car plunged down a mountain when he was out looking for a Christmas tree in a nearby forest.

The 76-year-old from St. Margareten im Rosental in Carinthia, was reported missing by his 44-year-old son after he failed to return after telling family he was off to cut down a Christmas tree.

Firemen and mountain rescuers set off to find the man that evening but heavy rain and poor visibility meant the search had to be postponed to the following day.

The next day the rescuers eventually found him at the roadside in the Rosental area, located within the southern Austrian province of Carinthia.

According to reports the man had come off a narrow forest road and plunged down a steep embankment around 100 metres before coming to a stop when the car hit a tree.

The man was able to free himself from the wreckage and managed to climb the embankment and walk about 300 metres up the road before he collapsed.

The man was already dead when rescuers found him at around 10 AM the following morning. Police believe he died at around 16.00 the previous day.

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