Canadian tourist dies while climbing stairs to Tiger Cave Temple in Thailand

A Canadian tourist died Sunday (March 29) while trying to climb the steep summit of Tiger Cave Temple, one of Thailand’s most famous religious sites in the country’s southern province of Krabi.

The man collapsed near the 1,100th step of the temple’s 1,260-step staircase as he and his wife were heading up to the mountaintop shrine, according to Thai media.

This marked the second death on the staircase within three days, the National Post reported.

Rescue workers reportedly arrived quickly at the scene and found him unconscious. Other visitors and responders attempted CPR, but he sadly could not be saved.

Because he weighed over 100 kilograms, teams had to carefully lower his body down the steep slope using ropes and a stretcher.

The man’s wife, a Thai national, told police they had planned to reach the summit to pay respect to the Buddha statues. She said they had done the climb before, but this time her husband felt dizzy before collapsing.

Tiger Cave Temple holds deep religious significance for local Buddhists.

The site includes meditation caves, shrines, and living quarters for monks at the base, while the summit—about 280 metres above sea level—features a golden Buddha statue and a sacred footprint.

Global Affairs Canada has not yet commented on the incident.

In light of repeated accidents, some have suggested safety measures such as adding a cable car, limiting access for older visitors, or requiring health checks before the climb.

The death follows another incident just days earlier, when a 68-year-old Thai man died at the summit on March 26.

Previous cases have also raised concerns about the climb’s risks, including the death of a 70-year-old Australian tourist in March 2023 and injuries to a 19-year-old German tourist who fainted and fell near the top earlier that year.

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