An actress who was swept to death by a giant wave while exercising on a popular tourist island in Thailand was just days away from her wedding, her fiancé has revealed.
Tourist Kamilla Belyatskaya, 24, was swept away from a beauty spot on Koh Sumui just moments after filming herself on her yoga mat overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.
Harrowing footage showed Kamilla – who had taken pre-wedding photos with her partner days earlier – in the churning sea after being hit by a large wave and washed into the frothy waters.
Tragically, her lifeless body was found washed up on the island’s busy Chaweng Beach on December 1.
Kamilla’s devastated partner, Grigorii Anokhin, said he only found out what happened to his girlfriend of five years through social media.
The 47-year-old said: ‘I was still praying for a miracle, that my fiance would be found alive. I’m devastated, I’m devastated. We were supposed to get married in a few days.’
Kamilla, 24, was set to marry her partner of five years, 47, within days
She was seen sitting on her yoga mat as the waves grew stronger
Footage showed a figure in the water as loud waves crashed overhead
“I was devastated and immediately went to the area to help look for her,” Anokhin said.
‘I have been with my girlfriend for five years now and we were planning to get married in mid-December.
“We had already taken pre-wedding photos in the hope of living together when we returned to Russia.”
Officers said rescue teams arrived moments after Kamilla was dragged into the sea.
But all they could see was her pink yoga mat floating in the surf and conditions were too dangerous to enter the water.
Jet skis, normally rented to tourists on the nearby beach, had also been moved inland due to choppy sea conditions.
Police eventually sent two jet skis to search the stretch of coastline. Rescue teams were also sent on foot to nearby beaches.
The search was called off at nightfall and resumed Saturday morning.
Police said they received a report about the body early Sunday morning from staff at a nearby hotel.
Officers brought tourist police, doctors and paramedics to the scene where they discovered Kamilla’s corpse about a kilometer from where she was pulled into the water.
A bystander also reportedly waded into the waves to rescue her, but without success. His fate is unknown.
The tourist from Russia’s third largest city Novosibirsk had visited Thailand’s second largest island with her boyfriend, it is understood.
She had gone to the Lad Ko view point to watch the waves, apparently on her own to practice for the view.
She had told her followers on social media how much she loved the place and repeatedly returned to the island, which she called “home” and “the best place on earth.”
Kamilla is said to have gone to the rocks alone to practice on her yoga mat
Kamilla had been sitting on the rocks, apparently meditating, as the water became more violent
Kamilla was seen arriving in a red car with her mat before heading to the rocks
The waves became more and more violent before she was finally swept away
She had gone to Lad Ko view point to watch the waves and was seen nearby in a red car.
She grabbed a pink foam mat from the trunk of her car before walking to the beautiful spot that offers panoramic views of the island.
Video showed her figure floating in the water as strong currents violently twisted the water and crashed waves above her head.
Rescue teams were also hampered by the rough seas.
Although they arrived just 15 minutes after she was swept into the sea, there was nothing they could do to save her.
Kamilla had previously posted about the beauty spot: ‘I love Samui so much. But this place, this rocky beach, is the best thing I have ever seen in my life.
“Thank you, universe, for having me here now. I’m very happy. I’m happy!’
Her boyfriend and eyewitnesses gave statements to local police about the tragedy.
“The incident is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by monsoon conditions, with authorities urging visitors to exercise extreme caution and avoid rocky coastal areas during periods of high waves,” a Thai report said.
Thailand is becoming increasingly popular among Russian tourists, including men trying to avoid being forced to take part in Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine.
Kamilla Belyatskaya, an amateur actress, had traveled to the Thai spot for exercise
Moments earlier, she had spoken to her followers about how happy she was to be there
The pink yoga mat was later spotted on the rocks after Kamilla disappeared beneath the waves
Authorities arrived 15 minutes later, but their rescue efforts were hampered by the current
About 1.48 million people visited Thailand last year.
Chaiyaporn Subprasert, head of the Samui Rescue Center, said warning systems were in place on the island’s beaches.
‘During the monsoon season, we continuously warn tourists, especially in high-risk areas such as Chaweng and Lamai beaches, where red flags indicate no swimming.
‘Although the incident location is not a swimming area, but rather a scenic viewpoint, the victim may have been caught off guard by the unexpected wave action.’
Local authorities have set up a maritime search and rescue center to coordinate ongoing efforts to locate the missing tourist and the man who allegedly went in to rescue her.