TRAGEDY
Selfie tragedy as 23-year old gymnast dies after falling off cliff
Natalie Stichova was with her partner and some friends at the top of Tegelberg in Bavaria and fell from a height of 230 feet while posing for a selfie.
The world of gymnastics is in mourning after the tragic news of the death of Czech gymnast Natalie Stichova, aged 23, was announced on Tuesday. She succumbed to injuries sustained after falling off a more than 200 foot cliff while taking a selfie at Tegelberg in the Bavarian region of Germany.
Selfie risk takes Stichova life
According to a witness cited by the Czech media outlet Blesk, Stichova was performing an acrobatic pose with one leg at the edge of the cliff when she lost her balance and fell. It remains unclear whether the fall was caused by slipping or by a landslide.
The accident occurred on August 15, and emergency services were able to rescue Stichova alive, though she suffered irreversible brain damage. Six days after her hospitalization, efforts to keep her alive were ceased, and her death was confirmed this Tuesday, yet another reminder of the risks of trying to capture that perfect picture.