Tragedy as star gymnast, 23, plunges 260ft down mountain to her death ‘while taking a selfie’ during a sightseeing visit to German ‘Sleeping Beauty’ castle
A top gymnast has fallen 80 metres off a mountain to her death. She was reportedly taking a selfie while visiting the German castle that inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.
Natalie Stichova, 23, was declared dead six days after she fell nearly 80 metres from the Tegelberg in the German state of Bavaria on August 15.
The tragic fall is said to have taken place near the picturesque Neuschwanstein Castle as the Czech gymnast was trying to capture the perfect Instagram picture.
In an interview with Czech media, a friend of Natalie’s said she was standing very close to the edge of the mountain when one of her legs appeared to slide over the edge while she was shooting the scene in front of the castle.
The friend, who asked not to be named, said: ‘She fell from a height of about 80 metres (262 feet). We will never know if she slipped or if a piece of the cliff edge broke off.’
Natalie Stichova (pictured during an earlier hike), 23, was pronounced dead six days after she plunged nearly 260 feet (80 meters) from the Tegelberg in the state of Bavaria, Germany, on August 15
The tragic fall is said to have taken place near the picturesque Neuschwanstein Castle, which is said to have inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, as the Czech gymnast was trying to take the perfect Instagram photo.
In an interview with Czech media, a friend of Natalie 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 she was preparing 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.”
According to local media, Natalie initially survived the horrific fall with serious injuries and was quickly taken to hospital by helicopter.
On August 21, her family turned off the ventilator due to irreversible brain damage.
The 23-year-old regularly shared snaps from her travels with her followers on Instagram, showing herself in her sportswear on the tops of mountains.
Natalie was a well-known athlete in her home country and had recently started training junior athletes herself.
“Natalia kept a smile on our faces her entire short life and that is how we will remember her forever,” her club, Sokol Pribram Sports Gymnastics, said in a statement.
‘We express our sincere condolences to her family and close friends and send them strength and support.
Natalia posted a photo of her hike to Pico do Arieiro on her Instagram account
The 23-year-old regularly shared snaps from her travels with her Instagram followers, showing herself in her sportswear on the tops of mountains
Local media reported that Natalie (pictured above during an earlier hike) initially survived the horrific fall with serious injuries and was quickly airlifted to hospital
The young woman was accompanied by two friends and her boyfriend, David (pictured with Natalie), when she fell from the mountain
‘In memory of Natalka, you are most welcome to light a candle in our gym.’
Her mother also paid tribute to her daughter in a post on Instagram: ‘She was amazing, we all loved her so much and we will always love her.
‘I’m proud that you were my daughter, my dream girl. You taught me so much. I wish you could teach me more.
“You were an amazing sister and your siblings will always remember you because you always remembered them.”
Natalie’s tragic death follows the death of a young girl while taking selfies for her TikTok followers at the top of a waterfall, who fell into the waterfall and drowned while trapped between two rocks.
Moe Sa Nay, 14, posed with her friends for photos to share with her 150,000 social media followers when she slipped on wet rocks at Sinywa Waterfall in southeastern Myanmar on July 22.
The girl was swept away by the fast-flowing current and her body became stuck between two large boulders.
Unable to free herself, Nay drowned as floodwaters engulfed her at the popular tourist attraction in Paung town in Mon State.
Rescue workers rushed to the scene but struggled to recover the young man’s body in time.
Dramatic footage shows volunteers and firefighters battling to free the lifeless girl’s body from the rocks the next morning, July 23.
Moe Sa Nay, 14, died on July 22 while taking selfies at Sinywa Waterfall in southeastern Myanmar after he slipped on wet rocks and fell into the current
Rescue workers pulled the teenager’s lifeless body from between two boulders the next morning
They were spotted tying her hands with rope and pulling her out of the narrow opening.
Rescue worker Mon Zaw said: “The one who slipped reached the bottom but died after getting stuck between the rocks.
“She died because she couldn’t get out. They tried to save her, but they couldn’t pull her out. Then the aid agencies and officials came.”
Moe’s body was taken to Paung Township General Hospital for an autopsy.
Her friend, who had also fallen from the falls, was only slightly injured.