A young French tourist has died after slipping and falling at a popular waterfall in Thailand while attempting to take a photograph with his girlfriend.
Tragedy at a Picturesque Beauty Spot
Alexis Vergos, a 22-year-old from Quimper in France, was visiting the scenic Na Muang 2 Waterfall on Koh Samui island in southern Thailand on Monday afternoon. According to local police, the man was hiking with his partner when they stopped to take pictures at the site.
In a fatal misstep, Vergos reportedly edged backwards on the wet rocks to get a better view of the cascading water. He then lost his footing, slipped, and plunged into the water below, striking rocks on the way down.
Desperate Search and Recovery
His horrified girlfriend immediately alerted the emergency services before rushing down to the base of the waterfall. However, she could not find Vergos in the fast-moving stream.
Rescue volunteers were scrambled to the location and used specialist climbing equipment to scour the area. After a search, they discovered the young man's body, which was lodged between mossy boulders in a crevice near the water.
Police Major Chayut Tulachotikul of Koh Samui Police Station confirmed the details. "The tourist and his girlfriend arrived on Koh Samui on Sunday," he said. "He was taking photos at the waterfall when he slipped, fell into the water, and struck rocks, dying at the scene." He added that the girlfriend was "in a state of deep distress."
An initial post-mortem examination concluded that Alexis Vergos died from a head injury sustained in the fall.
A Notoriously Dangerous Location
This is not the first fatal incident at the waterfall, which is renowned for its beauty but also its danger. Koh Samui district chief Amorn Chumchuay stated that extra warning signs in Thai and English had been in place for months, and most tourists had heeded them until now.
"We will now look at strengthening safety measures by installing fences or enclosures in dangerous areas and restricting access to high-risk spots," Chumchuay announced.
The history of the site includes several other tragedies:
- In 2017, former EastEnders actor Paul Nicholls fell and was stranded for two nights before being rescued.
- In July 2019, Spanish tourist David Conesa from Barcelona fell to his death.
- In November 2019, French tourist Bastien Palmier died after ignoring warnings to take selfies.
- In May 2022, Romanian tourist Nane-Iosana Bodea died after slipping while taking photos.
- In December 2022, British backpacker Joshua Kohler, 20, suffered severe injuries.
- In November 2024, Indian holidaymaker Sreemany Debjit, 29, plunged to his death while taking selfies.
Authorities have coordinated with the French Consulate and the victim's family. Given the circumstances were witnessed, they did not question the cause of death.
