Spanish cavers die in Morocco’s Atlas mountains

However, Mr Virues died later that day as search teams struggled to reach the missing men.

Local officials say that rescuers later reached the other two men and administered first aid but Mr Martinez succumbed to his injuries before the rescue could be completed.

Mr Bolivar had been successfully evacuated and was being transferred to the city of Ouarzazate nearby, officials said.

Rescuers had struggled to reach them in time as access to the 400m-deep (1,310ft) ravine was difficult,

Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz offered his condolences to the families of both men on the ministry's Twitter account.

Morocco's High Atlas mountain range includes peaks with heights of over 4,000 metres (13,100ft). Many tourists visit the mountains for trekking or skiing.