A British tourist has survived a fall from a waterfall in Thailand after ignoring warning signs during a hike with friends. The incident occurred on Christmas Eve at Na Muang Waterfall on Koh Samui, where the man was part of a group of eight international tourists.
The man climbed to the top of the 130ft-high waterfall, but slipped on wet rocks caused by recent heavy rain. He fell a shorter distance than the full height of the waterfall, sustaining injuries to his coccyx that left him unable to move. His companions hiked back to safety and alerted authorities.
A rescue team of around 30 people assessed the scene and decided the best approach was to lower the man down using ropes. They tied a rope around his body and winched him to the base of the cliff in an operation lasting approximately four hours. He was then taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The waterfall is known for its danger, with warning signs posted along the trail. Previous fatalities include a 23-year-old Romanian woman in May and a 33-year-old French man in 2019. In 2017, another British tourist survived a 260ft fall from the same waterfall, suffering multiple facial and skull fractures but no brain damage.
