Australian man dies climbing Indonesian volcano

Tourist sitting on the rim of the crater of Rinjani volcano in Lombok island, Indonesia FILE PHOTO

MATARAM — An Australian man has died from a suspected asthma attack after setting out to trek up Indonesia’s second-highest volcano, police said Tuesday.

John-Paul Lipscombe, 53, was a short way into the hike up Mount Rinjani, on Lombok island in the center of the archipelago, when he collapsed, said local police chief I Wayan Wartia said.

“He had walked two kilometers (just over a mile) when he suddenly collapsed and died,” he said.

Lipscombe was one of 10 hikers on the trek.

Mount Rinjani, which is 3,726 meters (12,224 feet) tall, is a popular trekking spot with tourists.

An Italian tourist was killed when she fell into a ravine while climbing the volcano in 2010.

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