A British couple who were killed in the Naples cable car tragedy were "enjoying retirement" before the incident, their friends have said.
Elaine and Graeme Winn, from Market Harborough, Leicestershire, were among four people killed when a wire snapped on Thursday.
Elaine, 58, and Graeme, 64, were reportedly just 30 seconds away from reaching the summit of Mount Faito when the cable car plummeted to the ground after a wire snapped, sending it crashing into a support pillar.
The tragedy occurred in the Italian city when the cabin, which was "almost at the station", suddenly descended several metres.
Tributes have come pouring in for the pair as authorities launch an investigation into the tragic incident
The cable car service had only recently resumed operations for the season after being closed over winter.
In the wake of the tragedy, some have speculated that high winds in the area might have played a part in the incident.
Since the couple were named, friends have posted tributes online, with one person writing on Facebook: "Just heard the tragic news that the couple who died in the Italian cable car crash were Graeme and Elaine Winn. Good friends who were enjoying retirement with lots of motorbike tours and holidays. How incredibly sad."
Another friend said: "Speechless and gutted! Lovely couple."
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At the same time, the tragedy also claimed the lives of Israeli tourist Janan Suliman, 25, and the cable car driver, Carmine Parlato, 59.
Meanwhile, a second Israeli tourist survived the horrific incident but was reportedly rushed to hospital with "extreme injuries".
Investigations into what caused the terrifying tragedy have begun, with several manslaughter and culpable disaster charges reportedly being looked into by police.
Umberto De Gregorio, chairman of the EAV public transport company in charge of the cable car service, described Thursday's incident as a "tragedy", taking to Facebook to write: "The cabin at the top has crashed, casualties are feared."
The cable car service had only recently resumed operations for the season after being closed over winter
REUTERS
Mayor Luigi Vicinanza Sindaco, who is due to visit the area of the accident, announced: "Due to the serious events of the Faito cable car, all events planned for the Easter holidays are cancelled."
According to La Repubblica, the cabin was "almost at the station" when the cable gave way near the mountain's peak, with the cable car hurtling to the earth after the cable snapped.
As a result, the incident has led to the cancellation of all events planned for the Easter holidays in the area.
