A 22-year-old French tourist has died after slipping on wet rocks and falling at a popular but treacherous waterfall on the Thai island of Koh Samui.
Tragedy at a Picturesque Spot
Alexis Vergos from Quimper, France, was visiting the Na Muang 2 Waterfall in Surat Thani province with his girlfriend on Monday afternoon. The pair had been hiking and stopped to take photographs at the scenic location.
According to reports, Vergos stepped backwards to frame a better shot of the cascading water. He then lost his footing on the slippery surface, plunging into the fast-moving stream below in front of his horrified partner.
Desperate Search and Recovery
The young man's girlfriend immediately alerted the emergency services before rushing down to the base of the waterfall herself. However, she could not find Vergos in the turbulent water.
Rescue volunteers equipped with climbing gear scrambled to the beauty spot to begin a search. They eventually discovered the French tourist's body, which was lodged between moss-covered boulders in a crevice near the stream.
Police Major Chayut Tulachotikul of Koh Samui Police Station confirmed the sequence of events. "He was taking photos at the waterfall when he slipped, fell into the water, and struck rocks, dying at the scene," he stated. The officer added that the girlfriend, who raised the alarm, was in a state of profound distress.
A History of Fatal Incidents
An initial post-mortem examination concluded that Alexis Vergos died from a head injury. This tragic event is sadly not an isolated case at this location.
The Na Muang 2 Waterfall, while stunning, has a deadly reputation. In July 2019, Spanish tourist David Conesa from Barcelona died there after slipping on wet boulders. Just months later, in November 2019, another French national, Bastien Palmier, fell 260 feet to his death after ignoring warnings to take selfies.
Other victims include Romanian tourist Nane-Iosana Bodea, who died in May 2022, and Indian holidaymaker Sreemany Debjit, 29, who perished in a similar selfie-related fall in November 2024. In December 2022, British backpacker Joshua Kohler, then 20, survived a 130-foot plunge but suffered severe head injuries and a fractured coccyx.
Even a former EastEnders star, Paul Nicholls, was stranded for two nights at the waterfall in 2017 after a fall, requiring a major rescue operation and a lengthy hospital stay.
Authorities Promise Safety Review
Following the latest fatality, local officials have pledged to reassess safety measures. Koh Samui district chief Amorn Chumchuay noted that extra warning signs in Thai and English have been in place for months and were mostly heeded.
"Most tourists had complied with the warnings, and no similar incidents had occurred until now," Chumchuay said. "We will now look at strengthening safety measures by installing fences or enclosures in dangerous areas and restricting access to high-risk spots."
Authorities coordinated with the French Consulate and the victim's family. The cause of death was not questioned, as the incident was witnessed. The case underscores the ongoing global concern over tourist safety at natural attractions, particularly when visitors attempt risky photographs.
