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Yanbacoochie Falls in Lamington National Park
Photo: Andrii Slonchak / Getty Images / 500px
A tragic accident has occurred in Lamington National Park south of the Australian city of Brisbane.
Australian media reports that a woman fell to her death while trying to take photos of Yanbacoochie Falls.
She was therefore on a hike with friends, reports ABC.
The group stopped at Yanbacoochie Falls.
Apparently the woman, who according to British media was a doctor, placed her camera tripod on a rock.
When the tripod slipped, she is said to have tried to catch it or retrieve it.
She also lost her balance and slipped ten meters down a slope and then fell another four meters into a waterhole.
No answer to calls
"Her friends tried to call her, but they got no answer," reports a police spokesman, according to ABC.
The hiking group notified the emergency services, but the rescue operation dragged on.
"It took a while for the emergency services to find the woman, get settled and carry out a risk assessment," says a spokesman for the fire department, according to ABC.
"The emergency services only reached the bottom of the stream bed at 5:15 p.m. - at 6:30 p.m. they were still rescuing the person." Three doctors who were also in the area supported the rescue workers.
But even they could do no more than confirm that the victims were dead.
The Ministry of Environment, Science and Innovation strongly warned bushwalkers to always stay on marked trails and follow signs when visiting the national park.
Yanbacoochie Falls is one of many scenic waterfalls in Lamington National Park.
The site is a popular destination for bushwalkers on the 13.4km West Canungra Creek circuit through the native forest of Lamington National Park.
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