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.''