A tourist has died after falling from Thailand's Death Railway - while he was leaning out of a door taking pictures.

Patrick Ward, 45, from New Zealand, had been traveling alone this morning on the famous WWII rail line, which inspired the iconic film Bridge Over The River Kwai.

He had reportedly been to the toilet on the passenger train then opened the door to take in the view and capture pictures of the scenery as it passed along cliffs above the Krasae Cave in Kanchanaburi province, 90 miles from Bangkok.

Patrick reportedly slipped from the shaky 75-year-old train, which was going along the same wooden tracks built by prisoners of war in 1940s.

Onlookers recording the iconic view of the train recorded Patrick plunging around 10 metres (32ft) to his death. A tourist can be heard saying 'he's fallen, he's fallen from the train'.

The driver stopped the train and rescue teams were sent to the area. They performed CPR on the Kiwi for around 30 minutes before he was pronounced dead at the scene shortly before midday. He was then carried away on a small train on the tracks to the nearest station.

Lieutenant Colonel Kiattisak Kerdchoke, the investigating inspector of Sai Yok district police station, said that Patrick had suffered a broken neck in the fall.

The policeman added: 'I was informed at 11:54 a.m that a tourist had fallen from the train while it was going along the railway bridge.

'A response team was co-ordinated with rescue workers and paramedics.

'Officers had to use methods to slowly descend the cliff to help the injured man. When they reached the body of the injured person, they found a large tear wound on the right arm, a broken neck. He was not responsive and not breathing.'

The tour guide that had taken Patrick on the trip said he had warned holidaymakers not to lean out of the carriages, which have open spaces where they connect.

Doors can also be opened for passengers to sit on the steps and they can also lean from the windows.

Tour company owner Prairat Butdawong, 70, said that Patrick had moved between carriages after using the toilet and was taking a picture while the train 'went round the corner'.

He said: 'I told all the tourists they cannot go out of the carriage, they strictly should not open the door. I said if you want to take pictures, take it from the window of the train.

'But when this tourist waled to the door of the second carriage and opened it to take a picture.

'I think the train twisted while it was turning and he lost his balance and fell. This has never happened in all the years I have been doing tours.'

The Death Railway and the bridge over the River Kwai were built by prisoners of war from Australia, the UK and other countries. The railway line stretching to Burmas was to help the German and Japanese war effort against the Allies, so they could transport supplies.