Thai park rangers and rescue workers have found and recovered the body of a German tourist, who jumped from a cliff, in an apparent suicide, yesterday (Saturday) in the famous Khao Ngon Nak (Dragon Crest) mountain in a national park in the southern province of Krabi.

The 31-year-old man jumped from the cliff in front of a group of officials from the Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi National Park, as they were descending from the mountain.

One of the officials said that they were shocked when the man turned to them to say sorry and then threw himself from the viewpoint after answering a phone call.

The national park chief, Teekawut Sriburin, said that park officials received a call from the victim’s family yesterday afternoon, asking them to look for their son, whom they said was suffering from depression and might self-harm.

A team of rangers was dispatched to Khao Ngon Nak mountain, after they learned that the German went there for a jungle trek up to the mountainous viewpoint, which took about three hours to reach.

The team found the man at about 5.30pm at the viewpoint and successfully persuaded him to come down.

As they were descending, however, the man received a phone call, after which he turned to the park officials, said sorry and he threw himself off the cliff, according to Teekawut.

The park chief said that his team then came down from the mountain, while seeking help from rescue workers by searching for the German.

The man’s body was found at about 1am this morning, but could not be recovered until dawn. It was then sent to Krabi Provincial Hospital.