Story By: James King, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash

This little girl aged five has been left orphaned after her mother slipped off a cliff and her father died as he rushed to save her and fell as well.

The shocking tragedy happened in Camonica Valley in the Italian region of Lombardy where the family from Milan were walking with friends.

The mum, Valeria Coletta , 35, was the first to slip and her husband, Fabrizio Martino Marchi, 40, had tried to stop her fall and both tumbled over the cliff in front of their horrified five-year-old daughter and two friends.

According to reports, it was clear that rescue attempts were almost useless right from the start as both fell hundreds of metres and it was later found they had died instantly.

The bodies were recovered by a rescue helicopter that set off from nearby Brescia working together with the fire brigade, police and volunteers.

As they were returning home from the hike, they were forced to leave the footpath because an avalanche had blocked part of it.

The friends who looked after the child raised the alarm with rescuers and managed to make it safely back with the girl who was handed over to her grandparents.

An investigation into the death is continuing but no foul play is suspected.

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