Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE starting June 12 2026

Norway tour guide expected tragedy

A Norwegian travel operator has called for change to improve safety at a tourism spot where an Australian student fell to her death.

A Norwegian tour guide says he had been expecting tragedy to strike at the tourism spot where a Melbourne student fell hundreds of metres to her death.

Kristi Kafcaloudis, 24, is understood to have lost her balance while preparing to pose for a photograph 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.

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.

Thomas Ruud, the owner of Trolltunga Adventures, which specialises in guided treks around the area, said he had been dreading such an incident.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

"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."


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world