A star Czech gymnast died earlier this month while hiking near the German castle that inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. Natalie Stichova was declared dead six days after she fell down Tegelberg Mountain in the state of Bavaria on Aug. 15.
The tragic plunge took place near Neuschwanstein Castle as the 23-year-old was trying to snap a picture for Instagram, according to a friend. In an interview with Czech media, the friend, who wished to remain anonymous, said that Stichova had been standing very close to the edge of the mountain when one of her legs appeared to slip off the edge while setting up a shot in front of the castle. “She fell from a height of about 80 metres,” she said.
“We will never find out whether she slipped or whether a piece of the rock edge broke off.” German police described the hike as a “challenging climb.” Stichova was with two friends and her boyfriend at the time of the incident.
Local media reported that the gymnast initially survived the fall and was airlifted to the hospital by helicopter. However, her family took her off life support on Aug. 21 due to irreversible brain damage.
Stichova was a well-known sports star in Czechia and recently had started to train junior athletes. “Natalia spread smiles throughout her short life, and that is how we will remember her forever,” her club, Sokol Pribram Sports Gymnastics, said in a statement. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and close friends, sending them strengt.