Tragedy hits US tourists

Cape Town - A 14-year-old American tourist in South Africa during the World Cup plunged to his death from Table Mountain while hiking with his family, police said on Sunday.

The teenager was hiking down the top tourist attraction with his brother and parents in wet conditions on Saturday when he fatally slipped on a trail known as Skeleton Gorge shortly after 14:00.

"He slipped and he fell. As a result of the injuries he sustained, he died immediately there," said police spokesperson Billy Jones.

Rescuers brought down the body and the family was assisted by the department of tourism and the United States embassy, he added.

The family, who are from Texas, were vacationing in South Africa and intended to watch some World Cup matches, said Jones.

They were hiking down the landmark Cape Town tourist site after catching the mountain's cable car to the top, he said.