Trainee Teacher Dies in Thailand

A trainee teacher has died in a freak accident while visiting a waterfall in Thailand.

Sarah Crutchley was learning to teach English as a foreign language (Tefl) in the country when she slipped on the seven-tiered waterfall on Friday April the 15th.

Miss Crutchley, 30, had been on a teacher-training course run by the Teacha Language School in the southern city of Hat Yai.

It is understood she had been walking across submerged rocks at Ton Nga Chang falls - about 15 miles from the school - when she was swept away.

Miss Crutchley, from Bournemouth, had been on a week off from training due to the Thai holiday known as Songkhran, according to an online blog.

A tribute to Sarah posted on a Tefl blog entitled Sarah - The Dear Departed said:

"Sarah was one of our best trainees.

"She had always been positive about life and a gentle person by nature. She passed away on the 15th of April, 2011.

"If you are reading this then please give yourself a 2 minute silence in memory of Sarah. We Miss You.''

Miss Crutchley flew out to Thailand in March, according to a post on the website Placebook - a social network for people on foreign teaching placements.

She wrote on the website that she was "overwhelmed by the opportunity'' and "had always had a desire to teach''.

In the post from October last year, she said:

"I've been living in Italy since July 2009 and I'm currently working as a nanny in a little town near to Milan.

"I've done various jobs and been various places since then which have all led me happily to where I am now.

"I've always had a desire to teach though and am so excited by the prospect of Tefl in Thailand. I'm actually really overwhelmed by this opportunity. Reckon it will be the best I ever do.''

It is understood Miss Crutchley's body remains in Thailand and is due to be repatriated back to Britain soon.

A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said:

"We can confirm the death of a British national on April 15 in Thailand.

"We are in touch with the family and are providing consular assistance.''