Mexico Volcano Death: Charles King, 25-Year-Old US Man, Dies While Climbing Pico de Orizaba

Mexican officials have announced that an American climber has died after slipping on the slopes of Mexico's tallest volcano, Pico de Orizaba, and falling 300 feet. The victim of the fall was 25-year-old Charles King, who was at a height of 15,000 feet of the 18,941-foot peak. In addition to King, three of his companions --another American and two Guatemalans -- also fell off the mountain. The other three climbers fell a mere 90 feet and suffered minor injuries.

According to the head of civil protection emergency services for the Veracruz state, Ricardo Maza Limon, King's body had to be lowered 12,000 feet so that a helicopter could transport it. The Guatamalans, father and son Douglas Leonardo Obregon and 15-year-old Sebastian Leonardo Lima, were rescued by helicopter and are reportedly in stable condition at a local hospital.

The Pico de Orizaba volcano is on the Citlaltepetl mountain, which lies on the border of the states of Veracruz and Puebla more than 100 miles southeast of Mexico City. The volcano is classified as a dormant stratovolcano -- which means it is built on alternate layers of lava and ash that has not erupted for a long period of time, but is capable of erupting. The height of the volcano makes it the second tallest volcano in the world, second to the Kilimanjaro in Africa which boasts 19,341 feet.