The incident happened near the town of Lillaz in the Gran Paradiso national park. Photo: Christian CC-BY-SA-2.0

A teenage Explorer Scout has died while gorge scrambling in Italy.

Elliot Peacock, 14, was with a group taking part in the activity at the Lillaz Falls in the Aosta Valley in northern Italy when he lost consciousness.

Instructors from Acorn Adventure, which was running the event, pulled the youngster from the water and attempted cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, helped by nurses who were in the area, but the boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

Elliot was a member of the Pegasus Explorer Scout unit which is linked to the 35th Glasgow Scout group. The Explorers were taking part in an adventure trip in the Gran Paradiso national park.

The incident happened about 4.20pm local time yesterday.

A spokesperson for Halesowen-based Acorn Adventure said: “The group were gorge scrambling on the second day of their nine-day adventure activity trip in northern Italy when the incident happened at a location popular for swimming in the summer.

“Gorge scrambling has been operated by Acorn at this particular location for hundreds of participants every year for the past five years.

“It is a low-level combined water and rock activity that involves walking up and down a river gorge and jumping into pools. It is controlled by fully trained and assessed instructors and all participants are equipped with helmets, buoyancy aids, full wetsuits and footwear.

“On this particular occasion, the group were jumping from a height of approximately 60cm into the water, where instructors were waiting for them as is normal. Water conditions were optimum for the activity and the weather was warm and sunny.

“As this participant entered the water for the second time, it was obvious to the instructors that something was wrong, so they rescued him from the water immediately. There was no obvious contact with a rock or anything else, so the reason for losing consciousness remains unexplained.

“Instructors who are trained first-aiders and nurses who were also at the scene began CPR and continued until the air ambulance arrived 10 minutes after being called.

“Very sadly they were unable to resuscitate him. Staff have since returned to the site with the police investigating the incident and it is now understood that there was no impact with a rock.”

Acorn Adventures said the thoughts and condolences of everyone at the company were with his family and friends. “The team’s efforts are fully focused on ensuring they are supported in any way possible,” the spokesperson said.

The Scout Association said in a statement: “The Scout Association is devastated that Elliot Peacock sadly passed away yesterday afternoon. Elliot was taking part in a holiday to the Aosta Valley in Italy organised by Acorn Adventure, a company specialising in adventure-based trips.

“We are working with Acorn Adventure to support the family, leaders and other young people involved in this very sad event.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Elliot.”

The teenager’s body has been taken to the Italian Alpine town of Courmayeur where a post-mortem examination is expected to take place.

Andrew Gardiner, founder and managing director of Acorn Adventure said: “We are all profoundly saddened by this tragic incident and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the boy.

“Our priority is to ensure we do all we can to help them by working with the various organisations involved to understand how this happened.

“The rest of the group are supporting each other and showing great maturity. They are a great credit to their Scout group and their parents.”

Acorn Adventure said it was continuing to work with the Italian emergency services and with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Senior Acorn operations staff, along with a trauma counsellor have travelled to Italy to provide all possible support, it added.

The company spokesperson said: “Acorn would like to thank the Italian medical team for their rapid response and assistance. The Acorn team will continue to support the family in any way possible, while gathering information to establish exactly what happened.”

Acorn Adventure is an adventure travel specialist provider for schools, groups and families. It was set up in 1982 and has six adventure centres across Europe and the UK.

Explorer Scouts is the Scout Association’s section for girls and boys aged 14 to 18.