A Canadian tourist tragically died from heart failure while climbing the challenging 1,260-step route at Krabi's Tiger Cave Temple in Thailand. This marks the second fatal incident there in just three days. The man collapsed near the 1,100th step, where his wife and others attempted to resuscitate him unsuccessfully before rescue teams arrived.

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Tiger Cave Temple, a well-known spiritual landmark in Krabi, is famous for its rigorous climb. The deceased's wife, Supanya Srisuthanyawong, reported that her husband had shown signs of dizziness prior to collapsing. This recent death follows other concerning incidents, including a 68-year-old Thai man who died just days earlier, and other recent emergencies on the ascent.

The incidents have fueled online calls within Thailand for heightened safety measures at the temple. Suggestions from social media users emphasize the installation of a cable car, restricting access for older visitors, and introducing health checks for those attempting the climb. The challenging nature of the steps, coupled with the hot weather, increases the risk of medical emergencies, raising safety concerns among visitors and locals.

As authorities address these concerns, the focus is on implementing potential measures to prevent further accidents. Temple officials and local authorities may consider the proposed safety improvements to ensure the wellbeing of future tourists.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Nation · 30 Mar 2026

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Why do young Thai wives keep taking their old geriatric white husbands to this attraction?

11 minutes ago, 1tooth said:

Why do young Thai wives keep taking their old geriatric white husbands to this attraction?

Why do you go to watch them?

Better to go out on his shield attempting a hike than rotting away in a nursing home or hospital bed. Wife was 61 so he was likely ~80? If only I could be so lucky to die around that age and in that manner.

I've done that climb and yea, it's a haul.

Best to have signage at the bottom warning elderly and people with heart conditions not attempt the entire thing.

7 hours ago, Priorexpat said:

I've done that climb and yea, it's a haul.

Best to have signage at the bottom warning elderly and people with heart conditions not attempt the entire thing.

That, and a defibrillator every 100 steps.

8 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Why do you go to watch them?

Safest place for the old men are a flight abroad obviously he wasn't getting enough sexercise

I think the appropriate comparison would be a building that is 120 stories (levels) tall. Most people will not climb 2 flights of stairs -- this is a bit more!

8 hours ago, 1tooth said:

Why do young Thai wives keep taking their old geriatric white husbands to this attraction?

Maybe they've seen the will.

7 hours ago, Priorexpat said:

I've done that climb and yea, it's a haul.

Best to have signage at the bottom warning elderly and people with heart conditions not attempt the entire thing.

The age of common sense is dead. Why is a sign needed? "Sheeet - that's a lot of steps. I'm 80 and have a heart condition. But hey, it must be safe as there's no sign".

I'm going to the place below in a couple of weeks. If I don't post again you know what happened.

7 minutes ago, Watawattana said:

The age of common sense is dead. Why is a sign needed? "Sheeet - that's a lot of steps. I'm 80 and have a heart condition. But hey, it must be safe as there's no sign".

I'm going to the place below in a couple of weeks. If I don't post again you know what happened.

Good to see that you're not going to hell.

My ex also tired to kill me on that climb during an April heatwave. Unsuccessful she was and I demanded extra services back in the air con hotel room. Worth the climb

12 minutes ago, Taco said:

My ex also tired to kill me on that climb during an April heatwave. Unsuccessful she was and I demanded extra services back in the air con hotel room. Worth the climb

As a lawyer that form of compensation has a great deal of appeal

I’ve had a couple of strange turns recently with steps.

1.climbing to the top tier at Erawan falls.

2,taking the steps at Bali Hai.

Both times I thought I was a gona.Dizzy,out of breath and nauseous .

76 now and still thinking I’m 21,but it comes to us all lads.

1 hour ago, arick said:

Safest place for the old men are a flight abroad obviously he wasn't getting enough sexercise

you are an absolute m0r0n! you are seriously a pa-thet-ic and sad excuse for a man!

Slightly of topic but a recent Dutch long-term study of a large group of [healthy] volunteers shows a blood pressure drop of 0.17mm for every degree C the temperature increases. That, and proper hydration incl electrolytes, is important for a very large group of people to bear in mind.

We all have to go some time, and as Oliver said, better than dying/rotting in an old people's home...

Some places do have warnings but people being themselves think they can do things, especially if they haven't before. The 750 almost straight up Wat Phu Thok temple in Bueng Kan province, the 500 step Mua Caves climb in Ninh Binh, Vietnam and the 450 step pretty vertical Ti Top Island climb in Halong Bay in Vietnam are also toughies.I would not recommend them if you have a heart condition or are out of shape, and make sure you have eaten and drank water before you go.

9 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

The 750 almost straight up Wat Phu Thok temple in Bueng Kan province,

Brilliant place to visit. It's a tough but worthwhile climb. Worst for me was the descent - when I neared the bottom a group of thais resting noticed my legs were shaking and had a good laugh.

Month ago I climbed the 500 steps up phu pek in Sakhon Nakhon - didn't have any trouble this time up or down. We saw about 6 people on our climb up and down and that made me wonder what happens if someone collapses or is ill at the top. A week or so later a 20 something Thai man committed suicide at the top and the news reports showed the rescue team carrying his body on a stretcher down the steps.

I've decided to set myself a wat climb from time to time to see how I get on as I age: it's good to test yourself to know your limits. Fancy that famous wat climb in Lopburi; maybe next year.

8 minutes ago, Bredbury Blue said:

Brilliant place to visit. It's a tough but worthwhile climb. Worst for me was the descent - when I neared the bottom a group of thais resting noticed my legs were shaking and had a good laugh.

Month ago I climbed the 500 steps up phu pek in Sakhon Nakhon - didn't have any trouble this time up or down. We saw about 6 people on our climb up and down and that made me wonder what happens if someone collapses or is ill at the top. A week or so later a 20 something Thai man committed suicide at the top and the news reports showed the rescue team carrying his body on a stretcher down the steps.

I've decided to set myself a wat climb from time to time to see how I get on as I age: it's good to test yourself to know your limits. Fancy that famous wat climb in Lopburi; maybe next year.

That was when I first came to Thailand to visit. A girl I met recommended it as she lived near there. She was having trouble towards the top so I helped her a little. Not easy when your knees have taken years of abuse lifting weights. The one in Ninh Binh was the hardest. The steps aren't even and some were wet. Going down some of these is easier yet harder to not slip.

11 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Why do you go to watch them?

Yes, I go to meet their young thai wives. 😜

3 hours ago, NanLaew said:

That, and a defibrillator every 100 steps.

With a Dr every 300 steps.😁

There are 12-14,000 steps on stone staircases along the Annapurna trek. The longest is 3,000 steps. Yes, going down is much harder.

But Shwedagon has an elevator. That’s no fun!

12 hours ago, Priorexpat said:

I've done that climb and yea, it's a haul.

Best to have signage at the bottom warning elderly and people with heart conditions not attempt the entire thing.

Me too, back in 2011. Went back in August 2025 but didn't climb, instead made this drone video of the temple in the early morning hours.

6 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Good to see that you're not going to hell.

I do like AC/DC though, especially the title track of their 1979 album.

Why does everyone assume the tourist was elderly? They don't mention his age, only the age of the other Thai man who died..

4 hours ago, 1tooth said:

Yes, I go to meet their young thai wives. 😜

Soon to be widows eh?

Seeing some people, obese locals and foreigners alike, coughing and wheezing their way up various temple stairs all over Thailand, I've often thought to myself, stairway to heaven.

18 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

Why does everyone assume the tourist was elderly? They don't mention his age, only the age of the other Thai man who died..

I dunno. Commonsense?

3 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

I dunno. Commonsense?

Lots of younger guys die from heart failure. Most publicised are young footballers in the premier league that drop dead on the pitch from a previously unknown heart condition. Climbing 1,100 stairs in the mid Thai summer could kill anyone. Not to mention, these days the average middle aged guy from Europe, US, Canada is likely to be overweight.