Foreign media reports on Valentina from England who died after falling from Kithal Ella.

A tragic news was reported recently about a foreign female tourist who came to Sri Lanka with the aim of experiencing its beauty, unfortunately losing her life after slipping and falling over a hundred-foot precipice at the Kithalella waterfall in the Ella area. The young woman who lost her life was twenty-seven-year-old Valentina Stragliotto, who was born in Bassano del Grappa, Italy, and later permanently resided in Brighton, England for several years.

This young woman, who had a strong passion for travel, arrived in Sri Lanka alone on September 8th last year, and spent the first few days of her trip in the Trincomalee area. There, she met another Italian friend, and together they arrived in the Ella area on September 22nd last year, staying at a tourist hotel. Subsequently, on September 24th, the two went to see the Kithalella waterfall and its surrounding beauty. Preliminary police investigations have revealed that this fatal accident occurred when she slipped and lost her balance while attempting to take a selfie or admire the view from a rock located at the top of the waterfall.

Valentina sustained severe injuries due to falling over a precipice more than thirty meters, or over a hundred feet, deep and onto rocks. With the intervention of her friend and local residents, steps were immediately taken to transport her by ambulance to the Demodara Divisional Hospital. However, doctors confirmed that she had already passed away by the time she was admitted to the hospital. Her Italian friend, who was with her during the incident, was unharmed. According to the post-mortem report conducted by Consultant Judicial Medical Officer W.M.K.B. Wijetunga of Badulla Teaching Hospital, severe injuries to her head and internal organs caused by hitting rocks during the fall from top to bottom were confirmed as the main cause of death.

Following the preliminary inquest into this sudden death conducted by Ella Inquirer into Sudden Deaths, Mr. L.H.C. Saman Priyadarshana, at Demodara Hospital, the body was referred to Badulla Teaching Hospital for further examination. Meanwhile, her sixty-seven-year-old father, Fabio Stragliotto, deeply shocked by the untimely death of his beloved daughter, arrived in Sri Lanka from Italy on September 26th last year. Identifying his daughter's body at the Badulla Teaching Hospital mortuary, he tearfully stated that he has two daughters and that his elder daughter was lost to their family in Sri Lanka in this manner. The father further added that arrangements would be made to transport the body back to Italy after the completion of necessary legal procedures. Her mother, Barbara Zarpellon, and father have decided to refrain from commenting to the media during this extremely difficult time.

Valentina Stragliotto was a talented young woman who was rapidly ascending to the pinnacle of success in her professional career. She worked in England as a senior specialist in the field of digital marketing, particularly in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and online advertising. Additionally, she ran a business called 'Aligned & Free', providing coaching services to individuals facing career challenges, helping them build self-confidence, adapt to career changes, and achieve fulfillment in the workplace. She had delivered lectures at SEO conferences in Brighton, England, and was also a member of the British Interactive Media Association's (BIMA) Young Talent Council, becoming a prominent figure in the professional world.

Exploring diverse cultures and spending time in nature were her main hobbies. Valentina had traveled to thirty-three countries and was fluent in French and Spanish, in addition to English and Italian. She also worked as a group tour coordinator for the travel company WeRoad, but had come to Sri Lanka for a personal holiday. From her school days, she excelled in sports, representing the Junior 2000 sports club in Italy in rhythmic gymnastics and tennis. Regarding her love for nature, she had noted on one of her social media accounts that her true place was in nature, and that she dearly loved hiking and especially waterfalls.

This sudden loss has deeply shocked her friends, acquaintances, and the community she lived in. Her old school friend, Rafael Marchese, stated that he was deeply saddened and speechless upon hearing the news. Colleagues who worked with her at WeRoad also expressed their profound shock at this tragedy. Nicola Finco, the mayor of Valentina's hometown, Bassano del Grappa, also expressed his profound sorrow to her family, stating that the untimely death of such a vibrant young woman has inflicted a deep wound on the entire community.

With this incident, renewed strong attention has been drawn to the safety of natural sites in the Ella area, including Kithalella, which are highly attractive to tourists. As reported by Sri Lankan media, various parties are currently questioning the lack of adequate safety measures at such dangerous locations. Relevant parties point out the urgent need to install clear warning signs and designate safe viewing areas for tourists to ensure the safety of both local and foreign visitors. Ella Police are continuing further investigations into this death.