A Russian actress, Kamilla Belyatskaya, lost her life after being swept away by a massive wave at a favourite scenic spot on Koh Samui, a popular tourist destination in Thailand.
Belyatskaya, 24, was captured on video sitting on a pink foam yoga mat atop rocks overlooking the Gulf of Thailand when a sudden, powerful wave hurled her into the turbulent waters below.
The chilling footage shows her struggling against the relentless current. Kamilla, a native of Novosibirsk, Russia’s third-largest city, was visiting the island with her boyfriend.
Rescue teams later discovered her body about two-thirds of a mile from where she was pulled into the sea.
Kamilla had expressed her deep affection for the island on social media, calling it “home” and “the best place on earth.”
Her posts often highlighted her love for the rocky beach where the tragedy occurred.
“I love Samui so much. But this place, this rocky beach is the best thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” she had written. “Thank you, universe, for me being here right now. I’m very happy. I’m happy!”
On the day of the incident, Kamilla drove to Lad Ko Viewpoint in a red car, retrieved a pink foam mat from the trunk, and made her way alone to the rocks to enjoy the view.
The mat was later seen drifting in the violent waters. Although rescue teams arrived 15 minutes after she was swept away, the fierce seas hindered their efforts to save her.
A foreign man reportedly tried to rescue Kamilla but was unsuccessful. His fate remains unclear.
Kamilla’s boyfriend and other witnesses provided statements to local police about the incident, which authorities described as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by monsoon season.
Head of the Samui Rescue Centre, Chaiyaporn Subprasert, emphasized the importance of heeding safety warnings, stating, “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.”
Thailand has become increasingly popular with Russian tourists, including some seeking to avoid conscription in Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
In the past year alone, over 1.48 million Russians visited the country. Local authorities have established a marine search and rescue center to coordinate efforts related to this tragedy and ensure better safety for visitors.
