BALTIMORE (WJZ)—A graduate of Johns Hopkins University is dead after a tragic accident in Peru. Thirty-two-year-old Ben Horne of Annandale, Va. was killed after falling off a mountain peak in Peru.

Mary Bubala reports his family is speaking out.

“He was so incredibly talented. He was an exceptional climber and exceptional athlete, a world traveler, an incredible social networker. He was an academic, a man of incredible faith,” a loved one said.

Horne had graduated from Johns Hopkins University and was working toward his doctorate in economics, as well as scaling some of the largest mountains in the world.

“His goal was to be as complete of a human as he could be,” said a loved one.

His loved ones say he was humble and quiet about his talents.

But make no mistake about it. The 32-year-old had mastered his skills, and was a world class climber.

He and his hiking partner had been climbing some of the highest peaks of the Andes Mountains in Peru.

It’s not known why, but at some point during their decent down an un-chartered trail the climb ended in tragedy.

“He had, along with his climbing partner, plunged about a thousand feet,” a loved one said.

Horne and his climbing partner were killed and found by rescue crews, 13 days after their last contact from the mountain.

“I think Ben had a deep appreciation for people. He connected with many, many people,”  said a loved one. “The example he sets for everybody is there is no excuse not to be extraordinary.”

Ben’s father will be traveling to Peru this week to bring his son’s body back.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been made.