A star gymnast has plunged 80 metres (260 feet) off a mountain to her death, reportedly while taking a selfie during a sightseeing tour of the German castle that inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.
Natalie Stichova, 23, was declared dead six days after falling nearly 80 metres down the Tegelberg mountain in the German state of Bavaria on 15 August.
The tragic fall reportedly took place near the picturesque Neuschwanstein Castle, as the Czech gymnast was attempting to capture the perfect Instagram shot.
In an interview with Czech media, a friend of Natalie’s revealed that she was standing very close to the edge of the mountain when one of her legs seemed to slip while setting up the shot in front of the castle.
“She fell from a height of about 80 metres. We will never know if she slipped or if a piece of the edge of the rock broke off,” said the friend, who asked not to be identified.
Natalie Stichova (pictured on a previous hiking trip), 23, was declared dead six days after falling nearly 80 metres down Tegelberg mountain in the state of Bavaria, Germany, on 15 August.
The tragic fall reportedly took place near the picturesque Neuschwanstein Castle, said to have inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, as the Czech gymnast was attempting to capture the perfect Instagram shot.
In an interview with Czech media, a friend of Natalie’s revealed that she was standing very close to the edge of the mountain when one of her legs appeared to slip off the edge while setting up the shot in front of the castle.
The young woman was accompanied by two friends and her boyfriend, David, when the incident occurred. Police described the route as a “challenging climb.”
Local media reported that Natalie initially survived the terrifying fall with serious injuries and was rushed to hospital by helicopter.
Her family took her off life support due to irreversible brain damage on August 21.
The 23-year-old regularly shared snaps of her travels with her Instagram followers, showing herself on top of mountains in her workout gear.
Natalie was a well-known sports star in her home country and had recently begun coaching youth athletes.
“Natalia spread smiles throughout her short life and that is how we will always remember her,” her club, Sokol Pribram Sports Gymnastics, said in a statement.
‘We extend our deepest condolences to his family and close friends, sending them strength and support.
Natalia posted a photo of her hiking trip to Pico do Arieiro on her Instagram account.
The 23-year-old regularly shared snaps of her travels with her Instagram followers, showing herself on top of mountains in her workout gear.
Local media reported that Natalie (pictured above during a previous hiking trip) initially survived the harrowing fall with serious injuries and was rushed to hospital by helicopter.
‘To honor Natalka’s memory, you are welcome to light a candle in our gym.’
Her mother also paid tribute to her daughter in an Instagram post: ‘She was amazing, we all loved her so much and will never stop loving her.
“I’m proud that you were my daughter, the girl of my dreams. You taught me so much. I wish you could teach me more.”
‘You were a great sister and your brothers will never stop thinking about you because you always thought about them too.’
Natalie’s tragic death comes after a young woman died while taking selfies for her TikTok followers at the top of a waterfall after falling and drowning while trapped between two rocks.
Moe Sa Nay, 14, was posing for photos with friends to share with her 150,000 followers on social media when she slipped on wet rocks at Sinywa Waterfall in southeastern Myanmar on July 22.
The teenager was swept downriver by the strong current and her body was trapped between two large rocks.
Unable to free himself, Nay drowned as water crashed around him in the popular tourist destination of Paung town in Mon state.
Rescue teams rushed to the scene but had difficulty recovering the young man’s body in time.
Dramatic images show volunteers and firefighters struggling to remove the girl’s lifeless body from the rocks the following morning on July 23.
Moe Sa Nay, 14, died while taking selfies at Sinywa waterfall in southeastern Myanmar on July 22 after slipping on wet rocks and falling into the stream.
Rescuers removed the teenager’s lifeless body from between two rocks the following morning.
They saw her tying her hands with a rope and pulling her out of the narrow hole.
Rescue worker Mon Zaw said: ‘The one who slipped made it to the bottom but died after getting trapped between the rocks.
“She died because she couldn’t get out. They tried to rescue her but they couldn’t get her out. Then aid organizations and officials arrived.”
Moe’s body was taken to Paung Township General Hospital for an autopsy.
Meanwhile, her friend, who had also slipped down the waterfall, only suffered minor injuries.