Tourist slips and falls to death at Thailand waterfall while taking selfie with girlfriend - The Mirror

Alexis Vergos was visiting Na Muang 2 Waterfall on Koh Samui island, southern Thailand when he slipped on rocks and fell to his death in front of his horrified girlfriend

A tourist plunged to his death at a Thailand beauty spot after slipping on wet rocks while taking selfies with his girlfriend.

Alexis Vergos had been hiking up a mountain in Surat Thani province on Monday afternoon when the pair stopped to take pictures. The 22-year-old, from Quimper, France reportedly edged backwards to get a better view of the Na Muang 2 Waterfall on Koh Samui island when he fatally slipped and plunged to his death.

The young man's girlfriend called the emergency services before rushing down to the bottom of the waterfall, but Alexis was nowhere to be seen in the cascading waters. Rescue volunteers used climbing equipment as they scoured the beauty spot before spotting Alexis' body lodged between mossy boulders.

Police Major Chayut Tulachotikul, of the Koh Samui Police Station, said: "The tourist and his girlfriend arrived on Koh Samui on Sunday He was taking photos at the waterfall when he slipped, fell into the water, and struck rocks, dying at the scene.

"His girlfriend was present and was the person who alerted the police. She is currently in a state of deep distress."

Alarming footage shows paramedics collecting the Frenchman's corpse, wedged in a crevice near the fast-moving stream. An initial post-mortem examination found that Alexis died from a head injury.

Koh Samui district chief Amorn Chumchuay said: "Extra warning signs in Thai and English have been used throughout the area for several months. Most tourists had complied with the warnings, and no similar incidents had occurred 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.

"Authorities coordinated with the French Consulate, and the victim's partner and family. They did not question the cause of death as they were present at the time of the incident."

The Na Muang 2 Waterfall is one of the most picturesque spots in southern Thailand - but also the most deadly. In 2017, former EastEnders star Paul Nicholls fell and spent two nights stranded on the waterfall before being rescued and taken to hospital, where he stayed for several weeks.

In July 2019, Spanish tourist David Conesa from Barcelona fell to his death at the same waterfall when he slipped while clambering down wet boulders. Months later, in November 2019, French tourist Bastien Palmier plunged 260 feet to his death after ignoring warnings to take selfies at the idyllic beauty spot.

While in May 2022, Romanian tourist Nane-Iosana Bodea died when she slipped while snapping photos at the Na Muang waterfalls nearby. In December 2022, British backpacker Joshua Kohler, 20, suffered severe head injuries and a fractured coccyx bone after ignoring warning signs to climb the 130ft high neighbouring Na Muang waterfall, only to plunge down the slippery surface.

In November 2024, Indian holidaymaker Sreemany Debjit, 29, plunged to his death while taking selfies. He was found snagged between tree branches and rocks the next day.