KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 — A National University of Singapore student was killed on Saturday after falling into a 1,400-metre high waterfall during a trekking trip to Kuala Krai, Malaysia.

The trekking group comprised 23 people. Most of them were students from the National University of Singapore. The hike started in the evening, as the group was planning to spend five days camping in Gunung Stong State Park, Kuala Krai.

The hikers reached Baha’s Camp in Dabong, which sat on the top of Mount Stong’s waterfalls, at an altitude of 1,400 metres, one of the highest in Southeast Asia.

According to Malaysian newspaper the Star, Lee Jun Jie, a 23-year-old NUS student was standing on a cliff to enjoy the sunset when he slipped and fell down the falls.

The rescue mission was delayed because of darkness and the slippery conditions. Rescuers located Lee’s body the next morning, and they had to use pulleys to retrieve the body.

The Strait Times reported that the post-mortem found drowning was the cause of Lee’s death. He also had a fracture to the left part of his skull.

Authorities advised people not to travel to some parts of Malaysia between October and February during the monsoon season, especially areas near waterfalls. — Reuters