Tragedy at the "Jamjaneun Soksok-ui Gongju Castle"... Gymnast Athlete Dies

Former Czech National Gymnast, Natali Stikova, Passes Away

Natalie Stikova, a famous Czech gymnast, died after falling from a mountain while trying to take a selfie near the so-called "Sleeping Beauty Castle" in Germany.

According to British media outlet The Sun and other foreign media on the 26th (local time), Natalie fell about 80 meters down the Tegelberg mountain in Bavaria, Germany, on the 15th (local time) and died six days later. The tragic accident is reported to have occurred near the famous German tourist attraction, Neuschwanstein Castle.

Natalie Stikova, former member of the Czech national gymnastics team.
Photo by The Sun

A friend of Stikova, who requested anonymity, told the media in an interview, "Natalie slipped while preparing to take a photo in front of the castle when she was standing very close to the edge of the mountain," adding, "We don't know if she suddenly slipped or if a piece of the rock edge broke off and caused her to fall." At the time of the accident, Stikova was reportedly with her boyfriend and two friends.

After the accident, Stikova sustained serious injuries and was quickly transported to the hospital by helicopter. Later, Stikova's family announced on the 21st that life support was removed due to brain damage.

Stikova, a former Czech national gymnastics team member, had been working as a coach for the junior team until recently after her retirement. A representative of the junior team expressed condolences to the media, saying, "With deep sorrow, our wonderful friend, gymnast, national athlete, and coach Natalie Stikova has left us forever due to a tragic accident." They added, "Natalie never lost her smile during her short life, and we will remember her forever." Stikova's mother said, "There was no one who did not love her. Our Natalie was the kindest person."

Neuschwanstein Castle on Mount Tegelberg in Bavaria, Germany.
[Photo by The Sun capture]

Meanwhile, Neuschwanstein Castle, located near the Austrian border in southern Germany, was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the late 19th century and attracts about 1.4 million visitors annually. It served as the model for Disneyland's Cinderella Castle and appears in the opening of Disney animations, but it has also been the backdrop for horrific incidents.

Previously, in June last year, an American man lured two American women at this castle by saying, "I'll show you a great place to take a selfie," then pushed one of them off a cliff. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for raping the other woman and then pushing her off a cliff to kill her.