'It was only a matter of time': Guide says death at Norway tourist rock was inevitable after student, 24, falls while trying to walk past daredevils taking photos
- Kristi Kafcaloudis died on Sunday at Trolltunga in Norway's south west
- She slipped from the rock formation while walking back to friends
- A Norwegian tour guide said he was waiting for an accident to happen
- Trolltunga is a popular tourist rock 700 metres above a lake
- Close friends and family have paid tribute to the 24-year-old
A Norwegian tour guide says he had been expecting tragedy to strike at the tourist hot spot where a Melbourne student fell to her death.
Kristi Kafcaloudis, 24, is understood to have lost her balance as she tried to walk off the rock ledge and join her two friends at Trolltunga or 'troll's tongue' on Saturday.
She and two friends had hiked 1100 metres above sea level to the scenic cliff, which juts out about 700m above Lake Ringedalsvatnet and provides a breathtaking backdrop, ideal for photographs.
After the Monash University student fell, her friends tried to contact emergency services, but were hampered by poor mobile coverage. An alpine rescue team hiked several hours to recover her body on Sunday.
Scroll down for video
Kristi Kafcaloudis, 24, slipped from the popular mountain tourist sport Trolltunga in Norway, as she attempted to join her two friends after standing on the ledge
A local tour guide said he was 'waiting for something like this to happen,' days after Ms Kafcaloudis tragically slipped and fell 200 to 300 metres to the ground
Circled: The spot where Ms Kafcaloudis slipped and fell as she tried to pass people queuing for a photo
Thomas Ruud, the owner of Trolltunga Adventures, which specialises in guided treks around the area, said he had been dreading such an incident.
'This is a pretty `new' attraction spread by the social media,' he said.
'It has become a huge favourite for travellers around the world and there are a lot of inexperienced people doing the trek - both in physical form and some clothing/shoes you wouldn't believe.'
Mr Ruud said it was a difficult trek and there had been numerous rescues over the last couple of years.
'Everything from broken bones, people not getting down before it is too dark and also tiredness. But this is the first fatal incident,' he said.
'Last couple of years, people have started to bring tents because they want the sunset and rise, and people drinking and getting out on the cliff.
'This is why we have been waiting for something like this to happen.'
Mr Ruud said it would be impossible to install fences, because the whole valley was a 700-metre drop.
'But I think more needs to be done about this, or I am sure it is going to happen again.'
Trolltunga or 'troll's tongue' is a rock formation that juts out about 700m above Lake Ringedalsvatnet
Loved ones posted photos with Ms Kafcaloudis (right), calling her 'amazing, beautiful, and inspirational'
Those close to Ms Kafcaloudis described her as an 'amazing friend and the most inspirational person'
Her Auntie was heartbroken at the loss of a 'very special girl' who would be 'very dearly missed'
Ms Kafcaloudis' mother, Milli Kafcaloudis, released a formal statement clarifying that her daughter had not slipped whilst taking a photograph - as was commonly reported, according to the ABC.
'It was an accident. She was nowhere near the end of the rock - and not taking a selfie,' claimed Milli Kafcaloudis.
'Apparently there were a lot of people on the rock that weekend, and Kristi was waiting about two metres out on the rock to come back to rejoin her two friends who were walking ahead.'
'We have lost a beautiful soul from our lives with the death of our much loved daughter, Kristi Kafcaloudis from an accidental fall from Trolltunga Rock in Norway,' the statement continued, according to the Sunshine Coast Daily.
'We are only consoled by the fact that Kristi was doing what she loved with her friends and living a life full of adventure and dreams - but we are mortified by the loss of such a talented and lovely young woman with her whole life before her.'
'A wonderful day so much fun just so sad that we have lost such a beautiful friend', wrote one friend
Family and friends gathered on social media to share photos and memories of Ms Kafcaloudis
Tributes in loving memory of Ms Kafcaloudis were also spread across social media, as friends shared photos and kind words about their deep loss.
Her auntie wrote: 'The most painful goodbyes are the ones that are never said and never explained. We lost a very special girl this week. You will be very dearly missed, Love from your Aunty Ang. x'
Others posted loving photos reminiscing on past times, commenting, 'A wonderful day so much fun just so sad that we have lost such a beautiful friend', and, 'I don't think it has properly sunk in yet.'
'Kristi was truly the most amazing friend and the most inspirational person. I'm so lucky to have shared so many amazing memories with her and there are no words for how sad I am to have lost her so soon,' wrote another.
Ms Kafcaloudis, who had moved from Melbourne to Norway last month, lost her balance on the rock formation and tumbled 200 to 300 metres to her death
The rock has 'become a huge favourite for travellers around the world', according to a local tour guide
Ms Kafcaloudis had just moved to Norway from Melbourne last month to study music and cultural studies at the University of Bergen.
The university's Rector, Dag Rune Olsen, told NKR that Ms Kafcaloudis's death was 'tragic'.
'We are terribly sorry about the tragic outcome of this accident. My thoughts are with the family, the parents and close relatives of the student,' he said.
'Many of our students come here because they like being in nature, and they travel in Norway. We think that's good, but there are also risks. Maybe we need to inform our students of these risks to a greater extent than before.'
It's understood Ms Kafcaloudis slipped from Trolltunga, which is 700 metre high, as she was preparing to pose for a photo with classmates from the university (file photo)
Tourists flock to the difficult trek hoping to capture the breathtaking scenery and sheer cliff edge
- Kvinnelig student omkom etter fall fra Trolltunga - TV2.no
- Vil advare utenlandske studenter mot farlig natur - NRK Hordaland - Lokale nyheter, TV og radio
- Former Sunshine Coast woman dies in Norway cliff fall | Sunshine Coast Daily
- Kristi Kafcaloudis, who fell to her death in Norway, 'wasn't taking a seflie', family says - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
- 'Swipe right!' Incredible moment Gorilla gestures for a new...
- Yvonne Ervin calls 911 after her sons stab her husband
- Mayday! Mayday!: BA pilots dramatic call as plane catches...
- Dramatic moment passengers escape from flaming BA plane
- Shocking moment photographer kicks refugee girl in the leg
- Donald Trump gets booed by crowd at US Open in his home town
- Cute chihuahua crows like a rooster when excited
- Kansas State marching band accused of forming male genitalia
- Australian student dies from fall off this cliff in Norway
- Firetrucks rush in to put out fire on British Airways plane
- Hillary Clinton dances and jokes on the Ellen Show
- Touching moment German girl hands refugee child a sweet
- Now Chrissie Hynde attacks today's lewd pop stars branding...
- U.S. hostage Kayla Mueller had her fingernails pulled out...
- Narcos at (Instagram) war! From guns and girls to big cats...
- Hero BA pilot had already cheated death once before when his...
- Josh Duggar has 'no remorse' about being unfaithful to wife...
- Hungarian camerawoman faces criminal investigation after...
- Escapologist tried to outdo Houdini by being buried alive in...
- Donald Trump and wife Melania attend US Open as presidential...
- The young man living with the face of a PENSIONER:...
- Caitlyn Jenner breaks her silence about fatal car crash and...
- 'U R setting me up': Missing Connecticut man's chilling text...
- 'My children are trying to kill me': Police release dramatic...