Known Czech gymnast falls to death while taking mountain selfie

International

A TRAGIC accident has claimed the life of a prominent Czech gymnast who fell to her death while trying to take a selfie on a mountain in Germany.

The 23-year-old athlete, Natalie Stichova, passed away on August 21, following a fall from Tegelberg Mountain in Bavaria, near the famous Neuschwanstein Castle, which inspired Disney’s "Sleeping Beauty."

The Daily Mail UK reported that Stichova visited the mountain with her boyfriend, David, and two friends on August 15.

While posing for a selfie at the summit, she slipped and fell approximately 262 feet (80 meters) down the rocky slope.

A friend of Stichova, who chose to remain anonymous, shared details of the incident with Czech media. The friend observed that Stichova stood on the edge of a rock when her foot seemed to slip.

The exact cause of the fall remains uncertain; the friend speculated that either she slipped or a piece of the rock broke off. “We will never find out whether she slipped or whether a piece of the rock edge broke off,” the friend said.

Emergency responders faced challenges reaching Stichova due to the difficult climb. They airlifted her to a hospital, where she received treatment for severe injuries, including critical brain damage.

Despite initial hopes, her condition worsened, leading her family to decide to remove her from life support. Stichova died at 5:30 a.m. on August 21.

Her gymnastics club, Sokol Pribram Sports Gymnastics, expressed profound sorrow and condolences in a statement.

“With deep sorrow, we announce that our wonderful friend, gymnast, representative, and coach, Natalie Stichova, has left us forever due to a tragic accident,” the statement said.(MyTVCebu)