Tourist Dies While Clicking Selfie On Moving Train

A tourist reportedly fell to his death while he was trying to take a selfie on a moving train in Kanchanaburi province in western Thailand on Tuesday, Dec. 27.

Patrick Ward, 45, an Irish tourist, was traveling with a tour group from the capital Bangkok to Kanchanaburi town, where the bridge over the River Kwai is located. After a brief stop at the location, the tour group proceeded to Sai Yok waterfall, another popular tourist destination. When the train slowed down at the scenic spot, Ward opened a door in the carriage to take a selfie. As he was clicking the selfie, he then slipped and fell 7-8 meters (yards) down a slope to the ground below the railway at Krasae Cave in Sai Yok district, Yahoo News reported.

Ward suffered grievous injuries in the fall. His neck and his right arm broke due to his fall. Even though rescuers attempted to resuscitate him for around 30 minutes, he eventually succumbed to his injuries and died. Following his death, the New Zealand Embassy has been informed to take custody of his body for his funeral.

Wade's current place of residence was not immediately known. He entered Thailand on Monday on a tourist visa.

Police found Ward’s body at the scene with wounds. However, none of the wounds found on the body suggested foul play.

Meanwhile, Kiatisak Kerdchok of the Sai Yok police said a full autopsy would be conducted Wednesday in Bangkok. He added that fellow members of the tour group will also be questioned about the incident, the Washington Post reported.

The “death railway,” in which the accident occurred, also known as the Thai-Burma Railway, was built from 1940 to 1943 by civilian laborers and prisoners of war taken by the Japanese.

The railway was meant to move soldiers and weapons for Japan’s Burma campaign during World War II.

An estimated number of over 180,000 to 250,000 civilians and over 60,000 Allied prisoners of war were forced to build the railway. Out of this, over 100,000 of them reportedly died while building the railway.