Singapore woman dies in Bhutan after falling ill on hike down from Tiger’s Nest Monastery

SINGAPORE: A woman from Singapore died in Bhutan on Saturday (May 30) after feeling unwell during a hike to the famed Tiger's Nest Monastery.

The monastery - a sacred Buddhist temple complex perched on a cliffside 3,120m above sea level - is one of Bhutan's most iconic tourist sites.

She was part of a Chan Brothers tour group that departed on May 26, said the travel agency in response to CNA queries, adding that the woman had been participating in scheduled activities before the incident.

The woman was descending from the monastery when she told an accompanying guide that she was feeling unwell. 

Immediate assistance, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), was administered on site while emergency arrangements were activated, Chan Brothers said.

The woman was subsequently taken to Paro Hospital.

According to Chan Brothers, the woman was travelling on its Bhutan Smart Saver itinerary and was part of a tour group comprising 16 travellers, including herself.

Happiness Kingdom Travels, a local tour operator involved in the tour, told CNA on Sunday evening that the woman was a 40-year-old Singaporean who had started feeling unwell before reaching Tiger’s Nest Monastery.

She had at one point given money to her travelling companion to make an offering on her behalf at the monastery, but later decided to continue with the trek and reached the site, said Sam, the 51-year-old general manager of Happiness Kingdom Travels.

While descending from the monastery, the woman was assisted by a guide after she again felt unwell. Sam added that a fellow tourist who was a doctor later performed CPR on her. He described the incident as “very scary” and said it was the first such case he had encountered in his 26 years in the tourism industry.

He added that a senior Bhutanese official had conveyed condolences from Bhutan's royal family to the woman's relatives through her travelling companion, who was also her roommate during the trip.

The tour concluded on Saturday, the final day of the itinerary.

"We are in contact with her travelling companion and family members and are extending full support during this difficult time," said Chan Brothers, adding that relevant authorities, including the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Singapore Embassy, have been informed.

"As investigations and medical procedures including a post-mortem examination are ongoing, we are unable to comment further at this stage," Chan Brothers said.

"Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and loved ones of the deceased."

CNA has reached out to MFA for more information.