Bungee couple plunge to their deaths

An engaged couple fell more than 300 feet to their deaths when a bungee jump went tragically wrong in Italy last night.

The couple had jumped in tandem from a 328ft high bridge over a river gorge in Polino, near the town of Terni.

According to an initial investigation, the 25-year-old man and 26-year-old woman, identified only by their initials, plunged to their death after the spring clips holding the elastic band gave way.

The jump manager said the couple had called him just after closing time to beg them to allow them to take one last jump.

No other jumps involving couples had taken place yesterday, a national holiday in Italy.

The manager said a man weighing more than 14 stones had jumped only minutes before them using the same equipment.

The bungee jumping facility at Ponte Canale, in central Italy, has been operating for several years.