Kamilla Belyatskaya, a 24-year-old aspiring actress from Novosibirsk, Russia, tragically lost her life while practising yoga on a cliff in Koh Samui, Thailand.
A giant wave swept her into the churning sea during her meditation session on a pink yoga mat, local reports confirm. Shocking footage captured her struggle against the powerful currents before she was pulled under.
Belyatskaya, who was vacationing with her boyfriend, had described Koh Samui as “the best place on earth” and a place she considered “home” in her final social media posts. She had arrived at the Lad Ko viewpoint in a red car before venturing onto the rocks with her mat.
Moments later, she was engulfed by a powerful wave. Rescue teams reached the scene within 15 minutes, but nine-foot-high waves hampered their efforts to save her, as reported by Khaosod English.
Her body was discovered two-thirds of a mile from where she was swept away. Only her pink yoga mat was visible in the raging waters during the search.
A bystander reportedly braved the treacherous seas to rescue Belyatskaya but failed.
As per The Daily Star, the man’s fate remains unknown.
According to the local media, an eyewitness said, “At some point, I turned away, and a second later, I saw that the girl had been carried away by a wave. Her boyfriend, seated higher on the rocks, called for help.”
Chaiyaporn Subprasert, head of the Samui Rescue Centre, told local outlets, “During monsoon season, we constantly warn tourists, especially in high-risk areas like Chaweng and Lamai beaches, where red flags indicate no swimming.”
He added that the incident location, while not a swimming area, was a scenic viewpoint, which might have led Belyatskaya to lower her guard.
The tragedy has prompted local authorities to restrict access to the rocky area below the Lad Ko viewpoint.
As per The Mirror, Thailand remains a popular tourist destination for Russians, with over 1.48 million visiting in the past year, including many avoiding conscription into Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.