Selfie death: French tourist dies while trying to take photograph at Thai waterfall
- The accident happened on Thursday afternoon on the tropical island of Koh Samui, which is a magnet for both backpackers and high-end tourists
- Thailand is largely considered a safe destination for tourists and typically draws more than 35 million visitors each year
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A French tourist has died after falling from a waterfall while trying to take a selfie in Thailand, police said on Friday.
The accident happened on Thursday afternoon on the tropical island of Koh Samui, where palm-fringed, white-sand beaches are a magnet for both backpackers and high-end tourists.
The 33-year-old man fell from Na Mueang 2 waterfall, the same spot where a Spanish tourist died in a fall in July, said Lieutenant Phuvadol Viriyavarangkul of the island’s tourist police.
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“It took several hours to retrieve his body because the waterfall is slippery and steep,” he said by phone, adding that the spot is roped off and there is a sign warning tourists of the danger. “His friend said he was trying to take a selfie and then he slipped and fell.”
The accident highlighted lax safety rules in the tourism sector and authorities have been scrambling to restore the country’s image since.
It took several hours to retrieve his body because the waterfall is slippery and steep
More than 250 people worldwide died taking selfies between October 2011 and November 2017, according to a study from researchers associated with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences published in August 2018.
Researchers found the leading cause of death to be drowning, followed by incidents involving transport – for example, taking a selfie in front of an oncoming train – and falling from heights. Other causes of selfie-related death include animals, firearms and electrocution.
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“The selfie deaths have become a major public health problem,” said Agam Bansal, the study’s lead author.
Although the study found India to have the highest number of deaths of all countries, numerous reports of fatal selfie incidents have also come from Russia, the United States and Pakistan. Bansal noted that while the simple act of taking a selfie isn’t deadly, the hazard arises when people take risks while trying to get that perfect shot.
Additional reporting by The Washington Post
