An actress has drowned at a tourist hotspot – after being swept away by a giant wave while doing yoga on a rock next to the sea during monsoon season.
Kamilla Belyatskaya was on the popular Thai tourist island of Koh Samui when tragedy struck. The 24-year-old had described it as her favourite place on earth.
But in a cruel twist of fate the tourist passed away at that very spot after being caught on video sitting on a pink foam yoga mat on rocks overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.
The Mirror reports that, seconds later, she was thrown into the swirling sea, hit by a large wave which washed her into the frothing waters.
Harrowing footage showed her struggling and buffeted in the surging currents. The tourist, from Russia’s third city Novosibirsk, had been visiting Thailand’s second-largest island with her boyfriend, it is understood.
Her body was found at the weekend two-thirds of a mile from where she was washed away. Earlier, she had told her social media followers how she loved this spot.
She repeatedly returned to it on trips to the island which she called “home” and “the best place on earth”. A foreign man reportedly went into the waves to try and save her, without success.
His fate is not known. Previously tragic Kamilla posted about this beauty spot: “I love Samui so much. But this place, this rocky beach is the best thing I’ve ever seen in my life.
“Thank you, universe, for me being here right now. I’m very happy. I’m happy!” Footage shows her at the beauty spot where she died. She had gone to the Lad Koh Viewpoint to watch the waves.
She was seen arriving nearby in a red car before seemingly going alone to the rocks. She retrieved a pink foam mat from the boot of her car before walking to the beauty spot which offers panoramic views of the island.
Later the mat was seen floating in the violent seas off Koh Samui, one of Thailand’s most popular islands. Rescue teams were hampered by the raging seas.
They arrived only 15 minutes after she was swept into the sea, but there was nothing they could do to save the tourist. Her boyfriend along with eyewitnesses gave statements to local police on the tragedy.
One Thai report said: “The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by monsoon conditions, with authorities urging visitors to exercise extreme caution and avoid rocky coastal areas during periods of high waves.”
Thailand is increasingly popular with Russian tourists, including men seeking to avoid being forced into Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine.
Some 1.48 million visited Thailand in the last year. Chaiyaporn Subprasert, head of the Samui Rescue Centre, said warning systems were in place across the island’s beaches.
He said: “During monsoon season, we constantly warn tourists, especially in high-risk areas like Chaweng and Lamai beaches, where red flags indicate no swimming.
“While the incident’s location is not a swimming area but rather a viewpoint for scenery, the victim may have been caught off guard by the unexpected wave surge.”
Local authorities have established a marine search and rescue centre to coordinate ongoing efforts to locate the missing tourist and the man reported to have gone in to save her.
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