Sydney man Edward Alchin was found dead after a grueling hike to a remote cave in Thailand
The grisly final post of an Australian tourist found dead in a remote mountaintop cave is revealed, as details emerge about the daring rescue efforts by Thai locals.
- Australian tourist dies in Thailand
- Collapsed after a difficult walk
An Australian tourist has been found dead after attempting a demanding hike to a remote cave in Thailand.
Edward Alchin, 69, from Sydney, was discovered unresponsive in Tiger Cave in Krabi province on Friday afternoon.
Moments earlier, he posted a photo of the stunning sight on Facebook showing the steep stairs leading to the top with the caption: “Only 1000 more steps.”
The Australian, traveling alone, made the difficult journey up 1,260 steps to the popular tourist spot.
Alchin reached the viewing platform on top of the mountain, but felt dizzy with fatigue and then collapsed.
Mr. Alchin (pictured) reached the observation deck at the top of the mountain, but felt dizzy from fatigue and then collapsed
Moments earlier, he posted a photo of the stunning sight on Facebook showing the steep stairs leading to the top with the caption: “Only 1000 more steps.”
It was found near the base of a Buddha statue by a passing local who raised the alarm.
Tourists called rescuers who performed CPR, but it took an hour for emergency services to reach the platform.
Paramedics attempted to resuscitate Mr. Alchin, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
It took another hour to get her body down the stairs.
Police Lt. Attakowit Sungkasit from Mueang Krabi Police Station said Alchin had arrived at the temple alone on a rented motorbike.
Lt. Sungkasit said the man left his bag and passport with temple staff and told them he would “be back soon” before setting out on the trek.
“Witnesses said he was healthy and had a lot of energy,” the officer said.
“There are no suspicious circumstances, but it was very hot that day so the conditions would have made it more difficult.”
A doctor who carried out a brief autopsy said Alchin may have gone into cardiac arrest after climbing the steep stairs.
Temperatures exceed 35°C in the south of the country, making strenuous exercise dangerous in some cases.
Attempts to revive Mr. Alchin were unsuccessful and he died at the scene.
Edward Alchin, 69, from Sydney, was discovered unresponsive in Tiger Cave in Thailand’s Krabi province on Friday afternoon.
Mr. Alchin had climbed the 1,260 steps to Thailand’s popular tourist spot, Tiger Cave.
Emergency services were called to the scene, but it took them an hour to reach the platform.
Mr. Alchin’s body was transported to Krabi Hospital while officials contacted the Australian embassy to inform family members of his death.
Since then, temple staff have asked visitors to refrain from hiking into the cave if they were not physically prepared.
In February, a German tourist was rescued after falling into a limestone cave in Krabi.
Fried Ingeborg, 61, was exploring caves in the Khao Khanab Nam mountains when she slipped and injured herself, and paramedics arrived to lower her down a 100-foot flight of steps on a stretcher.