Woman dies in cliff-side tumble

THALANG (Kom Chad Luek, Gazette): Police have ruled as accidental the death of a 20-year-old woman who fell 20 meters down a seaside cliff near Nai Thon Beach yesterday morning while she was on a motorcycle tour of the island with friends.

Lt Col Somkid Khaosang of Tah Chat Chai police station identified the deceased as Savittree Pinmuang, from Nong Bua Lumpu province.

Earlier that morning, K. Savittree had set off from her quarters in Patong on a motorcycle driven by a male friend, Anupong Pusri, 22.

They were accompanied by another couple, Duangjai Suwannakham, 20, and Nara Uy-Thong, 27, riding a separate bike.

K. Duangjai told police that when the four reached the top of a hilly section of road about one kilometer south of Nai Thon Beach, K. Savittree led the foursome walking through a forested area to the cliff, just north of the Trisara resort.

Eager to get near the sea, K. Savittree began to descend a rocky cliff but lost her footing and fell some 20 meters to an inaccessible ledge below.

After being notified by a local resident, police arrived to find all three of the victim’s friends crying by the roadside.

K. Savittree’s body was recovered and taken to Thalang Hospital after a 40-minute effort using ropes by rescue workers from the Kusoldharm Foundation.

She suffered a massive head wound and broken left hand during the fall.

During questioning at the Tah Chat Chai Police headquarters, the victim’s friends said they all lived and worked in Phuket.

That morning, they drank three bottles of beer together and set off north on a tour of the island with no particular destination in mind, hoping to find a quiet place where they could enjoy a view.

“I questioned them and didn’t hear anything that might indicate it could have been a case of murder. They were all sad and upset. All three gave the same version of events, so I expect this case was an accident,” said Col Somkid.