An Indian tourist was found dead after falling from a killer waterfall that almost claimed the life of Eastenders actor Paul Nicholls.

Debjit Sreemany, 29, and his friend Rahul Halder were hiking up to the summit of the Na Mueang Waterfall 2 on the island of Koh Samui when he reportedly plunged off a cliff while taking pictures on November 9 afternoon.

Rahul said he rushed to the nearby Samui Elephant Kingdom Sanctuary to inform staff that his friend had disappeared.

Tourist police said they received a report at around 2:35 pm. They arrived and set up a command centre near the waterfall entrance. Officers scoured the waterfall and surrounding forests, but found no trace of the missing Indian tourist.

The search was suspended in the evening, as heavy rains battered the area.

The mission continued the following day, November 10, when rescue teams discovered Debjit's body snagged in tree branches and rocks on the lowest level of the waterfall at 4:10 pm.

He was taken to the Koh Samui Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Rahul said: 'We rode a motorcycle to the waterfall. We decided to walk up the stream because the main entrance was closed due to the rainy monsoon season.

'At around 1:50 pm, I saw Debjit slip and fall down the wet rocks. He slid down and disappeared into the water. He wasn't answering so I ran to the Elephant Kingdom camp to ask for help.'

The Na Mueang 2 Waterfall on Koh Samui island has been the site of several fatal falls over the years, especially among tourists. The incidents often involve visitors venturing beyond designated safe zones.

In 2017, Eastenders star Paul Nicholls was seriously injured and spent several weeks in hospital after plunging down the Na Mueang Waterfall 2 on the idyllic island. He remained trapped without food for three days before being rescued.

In 2019, a French man Bastien Palmier, 33, died after reportedly trying to take a selfie close to the edge, leading to a fatal fall.

A similar case happened in 2020, when Romanian tourist Nane-Iosana Bodea, 23, fell from a higher level of the waterfall while taking photos. She reportedly hit her head on the rocks below.

In December 2023, French holidymaker Ryan Meghan, 20, plunged from the same waterfall while hiking with his friends. Authorities found his lifeless body wedged between rocks at a lower tier of the waterfall.

The area is marked with warning signs and barriers to inform visitors of potential dangers but the waterfall's natural beauty continues to attract tourists, who sometimes underestimate the risks.