Australian man dies while climbing Indonesian volcano

MATARAM, Indonesia (AFP) - An Australian man has died from a suspected asthma attack after setting out to trek up Indonesia's second-highest volcano, the police said on Tuesday.

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

"He had walked 2km when he suddenly collapsed and died," he said.

Mr Lipscombe was one of 10 hikers on the trek.

Mount Rinjani, which is 3,726m tall, is a popular trekking spot for tourists.

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

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