Patrick Ward, 45, an Irish tourist, fell to his death from a moving train as he tried to take a selfie on Thailand’s “Death Railway.” He was on a trip from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi with other tourists when he tumbled down the steep slope from an open cabin door.
Ward opened the train door to take a selfie and slipped below the railway. Tour company staff said he lost his balance when the train was turning a sharp corner.
Other tourists filming the beautiful scenery from the train had a shocking sight and captured the tragic moment when Ward plunged to his death. A video clip shows him falling down a cliff.
The train’s driver stopped the train and the rescue team rushed to the area.
Ward was found with a broken arm and neck. The rescuers attempted to resuscitate him for about thirty minutes, but they were unable to save him
Police confirmed the death and said that at about 11:45 am a tourist had fallen from a train along the railway bridge.
“Our officer had to be creative to slowly descend the cliff to try and help the injured man. They found a big tear wound on the right arm and a broken neck when they descended. The man was not responsive and not breathing,” the officer said.
The Thai-Burma Railway, popularly known as the “Death Railway,” was built between 1940-1943 during World War II, by prisoners and civilians who were captured by the Japanese.
The train was used to move soldiers and weapons from Japan’s Burma military camps during WW II. An estimated 180,000-250,000 civilians and 60,000 prisoners of war took part in the construction of the railway. Tens of thousands of workers reportedly died during the construction process.
