French tourist dies in Kazakhstan trying to reach Baikonur

Tourists came to Almaty from Paris intending to illegally penetrate the territory of the Baikonur Cosmodrome. As a result, one of them has died because of dehydration in the steppe, according to the RIA Novosti, citing a source familiar with the matter.

«Two French citizens were trying to illegally trespass the cosmodrome territory. They chose the so-called classic route which means they went from the highway toward high buildings they saw by foot across the steppe. One of the tourists got sick on the way,» the source told the media outlet.

As the 112 Channel on Telegram reported, the tourists were 27-year-old Nicolas K. and 25-year-old Angelo A. During a walk under the sun with an air temperature of 32 degrees, Angelo suffered a nosebleed several times and eventually fainted. Even though his friend immediately rushed back to the road for help, the young tourist died.

Baikonur is the biggest cosmodrome in the world built in 1957 by the Soviet Union in the Kyzylorda region of Kazakhstan. There are 15 launching pads of nine types for different missiles. Russia has been renting the cosmodrome from Kazakhstan since 1994 for $115 million per year. The agreement between the two countries is going to last until 2050.