A Russian tourist visiting Koh Samui, Thailanddied after being swept away by a huge wave on Friday while doing yoga on a rock at a popular viewpoint.
Local news media identified the woman as 24-year-old Kamilla Beliatskaya.
Police reviewed CCTV footage showing Beliatskaya arriving in a red car at the parking lot of the Laad Koh viewpoint just before 1 p.m.
She then grabbed a pink yoga mat from the trunk of the car before walking alone to the rocky area below the viewpoint.
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Russian tourist Kamilla Beliatskaya died this weekend after being swept away by a huge wave while doing yoga on a rock near the Laad Koh viewpoint in Koh Samui, Thailand. (Credit: East2West)
Moments later, video shows Beliatskaya being swept off the rocks by a powerful wave. Shocked onlookers watched helplessly as the tragedy unfolded.
Witnesses contacted Bo Phut police station around 1:30 p.m. to report that the woman was missing.
She was last seen struggling in the rough waters, with waves reaching heights of up to three meters, local news channel Khaosod English reported.
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The woman’s yoga mat was spotted on the rocks after being swept away. (Credit: East2West)
Water rescue teams attempted to search the area for Beliatskaya, but operations were suspended after about 30 minutes as wave conditions continued to deteriorate.
Earlier in the day, jet ski operators removed their vehicles from the beach due to dangerous conditions.
Khaosod English reported that the incident took place near the Laad Koh Viewpoint in Moo 6, Bo Phut District, Surat Thani Province in Thailand. Surat Thani is home to the popular tourist islands from Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan.
Chaiyaporn Subprasert, the head of the Samui Rescue Center, told the publication that warning systems were in place at all beaches on the island.
Kamilla Beliatskaya was tragically swept away by a wave while doing yoga at a rocky lookout in Thailand. (Credit: East2West)
“During the monsoon season, we continuously warn tourists, especially in high-risk areas such as Chaweng and Lamai beaches, where red flags indicate no swimming,” he said. “Although the incident location is not a swimming area, but rather a scenic viewpoint, the victim may have been blindsided by the unexpected wave action.”
Around 11 p.m. on Saturday, police received a report that staff from the Impeña Resort Hotel had discovered a body on Chaweng Noi Beach. The body was determined to be that of Beliatskaya. Her boyfriend, Grigorii Anokhin, confirmed the identification, according to Khaosod English.
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Authorities urged visitors to exercise extreme caution during monsoon conditions and avoid rocky coastal areas when surf is high.
