'Selfie-taking' Australian falls to death in Portugal

Two people have died after falling from a wall at a popular tourist beach in Portugal.

South beach on the 26th May 2018 in Ericeira in Portugal. Ericeira is a civil parish and seaside resort/fishing community on the western coast of Portugal.

South beach on the 26th May 2018 in Ericeira in Portugal. Ericeira is a civil parish and seaside resort/fishing community on the western coast of Portugal. Source: Getty Images

A man and a woman were reportedly taking selfies overlooking the beach in the coastal town of Ericeira when they lost their balance and fell to their death, according to local media.

Initial reports claimed they were an Australian couple, however, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) told SBS News only one Australian was involved and it was providing assistance to the family.

DFAT also said it had contacted the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding the other person who died in the incident.
Ericeira in Lisbon, Portugal.
Ericeira in Lisbon, Portugal. Source: Google Maps
"Everything seems to indicate that the fall happened when they were probably trying to take a selfie," Rui Pereira da Terra, head of the rescue service in Cascais port near Lisbon, told AFP.

"It seems they dropped their mobile phone and fell down while leaning over to retrieve it," he added.

The fatal accident happened in the coastal town of Ericeira, a popular surfing spot 30 kilometres from the Portuguese capital.

The beach is ringed by cliffs and a 40-metre high wall.

It was not the first time that tourists had fallen off the wall.


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Source: AFP, SBS

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'Selfie-taking' Australian falls to death in Portugal | SBS News