KUALA LUMPUR: A 24-year-old aspiring Russian actress, Kamilla Belyatskaya, tragically lost her life while meditating on a cliffside yoga mat during her vacation in Thailand.
The incident occurred at the Lad Ko viewpoint on Koh Samui, overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, the New York Post reported.
According to local reports, shocking footage captured the moment a giant wave struck and swept Belyatskaya into the sea on Friday afternoon.
She had described the tourist spot on social media as "the best place on earth" just hours before the tragedy.
Belyatskaya, accompanied by her boyfriend, had driven to the site in a red car.
Witnesses saw her meditating on a pink yoga mat moments before the wave hit.
A bystander attempted to rescue her but was unsuccessful. His status remains unclear.
Rescue teams arrived 15 minutes after the incident but were hindered by nine-foot waves, which made it impossible to reach her immediately.
Her body was later found two-thirds of a mile from the viewpoint.
Chaiyaporn Subprasert, head of the Samui Rescue Centre, stated that warning systems and red flags are in place across high-risk areas during the monsoon season.
However, he noted that the incident occurred in a scenic viewpoint, not a swimming zone, where visitors may not expect sudden wave surges.
In response to the tragedy, Samui City Municipality has closed access to the rocky area below the viewpoint to ensure public safety.