A British woman has died after a bicycle accident while on holiday in Italy, according to local news reports.

The 27-year-old, whose name has not been identified, sustained fatal injuries when she was thrown from her bike as it descended a steep path near Lake Garda, Il Giorno reported.

Despite wearing a helmet, the impact of his fall was said to be “very violent” and he died instantly at approximately 10am on Friday.

The woman is believed to have hit her head on a stretch of track along Via Mezzane, which connects Navazzo di Gargano to Gaino.

She and her husband had completed a tour of the Dolomites as part of their cycling vacation.

An emergency helicopter was dispatched from Verona to attend to the incident, but was called back after the woman was found dead.

The footage showed police cars blocking the road as officers conducted an examination of the scene.

‘There was nothing that could be done’

A source said the couple had arrived last week and would return to the UK on Saturday from nearby Verona.

The source said: “It’s a very steep trail and although the woman was wearing a helmet, she was thrown quite violently and there was nothing that could be done.

“It’s not a paved road, it’s a gravel track, so it can be a bit tricky to get there.”

The woman was riding a hybrid road/mountain bike, which is capable of off-road driving.

His partner was taken to hospital and treated for shock after witnessing the fatal accident.

A police spokesperson told MailOnline: “I can confirm that a 27-year-old British woman has died after an accident while cycling near Lake Garda.

“The circumstances are still being investigated and officers are preparing a report.

“The woman’s partner raised the alarm and took him to the hospital but he was not injured, although he was very shocked.

“We are in the process of alerting the British authorities so that the relatives can be informed.”

The Foreign Ministry has been contacted for comment.