Three friends embrace before the river carries them into Italy

A video clip spread on social media showed three friends hugging each other in the middle of a river in Italy. Patricia Kormos, 20, Bianca Duros, 23, and Christian Molnar, 25, were seen standing and resisting the force of the waters of the Natison River in Primariako.

The trio was walking near the river near the city of Udine. Water levels rose rapidly after days of heavy rain in northern Italy. Although they tried to fight the current, the group ended up being swept away.

Udine Fire Department Chief Giorgio Basile told The Telegraph that he threw a rope in a desperate attempt to save the group, but to no avail. According to Basile, he could only watch as the group lost its balance and was swept away by the current.

Two bodies were found about one kilometer from where the group was last seen. Authorities estimate the bodies are those of Bianca and Patricia. Bianca and Christian were Romanian tourists.

Michel de Sabata, the mayor of Primariaco, expressed his condolences to the young people and declared that what happened was an “unpredictable situation.” The mayor also stated that locals know that the behavior of the river can change quickly.