Crossword Genius

Europeans died falling in mountains (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

andes

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'mountains' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'europeans died falling in' is the wordplay.
'europeans' becomes 'anes' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'died' becomes 'd' (abbreviation next to the year of someone's death).
'falling in' indicates putting letters inside.
'anes' going around 'd' is 'ANDES'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for andes that I've seen before include "Great mountains of western S America" , "Great S American mountains" , "South American mountain range" , "A geographical feature" , "Mountains for the Danes, oddly" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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