Czech falls to death taking selfie at cliffside

SURAT THANI: The deadly plunge of a Czech tourist at Bang Khun Si waterfall on Koh Samui while he was taking a selfie has spurred worries over travellers ignoring warnings about entering prohibited zones on the resort island.

The death of Jiri Barta, who slipped and fell 30 metres off a cliff, was “not the first case” as similar accidents had happened to tourists who defied official warnings over the dangerous spot, Samitthasak Sutthara, chief of Surat Thani tourist rescue centre, said yesterday.

A noticeboard and ropes to prevent visitors from entering the area were apparently ignored, he said.

Barta’s friends told police the man walked near the edge of the cliff to take photos, but the ground was slippery and he accidentally plummeted into the water below.

His friends scrambled down to help. However, they failed to save his life despite attempts to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Police and rescuers were later called in. They spent more than three hours lifting Barta’s body up to the cliff edge.

Doctors examining his injuries said the 32-year-old suffered a broken neck and severe head injuries.

Barta was among a group of eight Czech tourists who had arrived in Thailand on Feb 5.

The accident happened after they went on a sight-seeing ride around the island and were dropped off at Bang Khun Si waterfall.

It was an area which is not officially open for tourism, Mr Samitthasak said. Visitors often go to the area on their own without guides from tourism agencies.

Two other tourists reportedly died and three others were injured during trips to the waterfall.

On Feb 18, a Russian tourist was injured when he fell off another cliff.