Tourist plunges to his death while taking selfies at waterfall

A tourist plunged to his death after allegedly ignoring warning signs to take selfies at a waterfall. Soipov Abdullokh, 22, from Uzbekistan, had been hiking through the beauty spot with six Russian friends in Ranong, southern Thailand, on Saturday morning. The backpacker, stuck in Thailand during the pandemic, allegedly ignored warning signs not to stand at the top of the waterfalls in the national park. His friends watched in horror as he slipped on the wet surface of the rocks and fell around 50ft to his death.

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The emergency services arrived around two hours later and discovered Soipov among sharp rocks at the bottom of the waterfall. He had suffered a deep cut on his head, pouring blood into the clear mountain water. Paramedics declared him dead at the scene and his body was taken to the Ranong Hospital for a post-death examination. Police questioned Soipov's friends, four men and two women, who all said that he had stood on top of the waterfall to take selfies among the idyllic surroundings in the Ngao Waterfall National Park.

Chalit Sinrojthanakorn, head government officer for the national park, said Soipov had ignored warnings not to go near the edge of the waterfall due to its slippery surface. He said: "As soon as we received the call we immediately coordinated with the rescue foundation and the police. The young foreign tourist and his friends rented motorbikes and travelled from Phuket to view the beautiful scenery. The deceased walked off the path set out by authorities to climb the waterfall. He then slipped on a rock and fell. His body crashed against the rocks below and he was bleeding through the mouth and nose. The death was very quick."

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The park ranger said that Soipov had "violated" a ban on climbing the waterfall because he "wanted to take pictures".

Police said the tourist's body has been sent to hospital to confirm the cause of death and the Embassy of Uzbekistan has been informed.