Tourists risk lives for selfie on cliff tops and rock ledges at Diamond Bay in Sydney’s east

A young woman’s death, new barriers and more warning signs have not deterred tourists from risking their lives to score the perfect selfie along a dangerous coastline in Sydney’s east.

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A young woman’s death, new barriers and more warning signs have not deterred tourists from risking their lives to score the perfect selfie along dangerous coastline in Sydney’s east.

The Daily Telegraph witnessed multiple incidents in Vaucluse’s Diamond Bay in just two days last week where people ignored signage, climbed over fences and posed for photos only centimetres from cliff faces.

Tourists risking their lives on narrow rock ledges at Diamond Headland in Vaucluse. Photo: Tim Pascoe

An exasperated Waverley mayor Paula Masselos yesterday said she was gobsmacked people were continuing to trespass despite a 27-year-old woman falling to her death at Diamond Bay last August, saying “they’re wilfully ignoring our warnings”.

“They’re still doing it? … I’m extremely disappointed, but continue to be concerned that people are not listening to our warnings … they’re not heeding the fact that our barriers are there to save lives,” she said.

A tourist who has climbed over safety fences in order to get a dangerous selfie at Diamond Bay. Photo: Tim Pascoe

A tourist takes a selfie on the other side of the safety fence. Photo: Tim Pascoe

“Please heed council’s warnings, we have put those warnings and the fences there for a very good reason and that good reason is to help you stay alive. It’s dangerous … no selfie is worth a person’s life”.

Waverley deputy mayor Elaine Keenan called on people to play it safe.

“It’s been an issue up there for locals for quite a long time … you can’t legislate for common sense because it’s not that common,” she said.

“Is a selfie worth falling and killing yourself?”

A ladder has been placed there to help people climb to narrow ledges. Photo: Tim Pascoe

Tourist taking risks at Diamond Bay for the best selfies on Monday. Photographer: Adam Yip

Waverley Council rangers and police can fine people for ignoring signs and they can also kick people out of areas where the public is not allowed such as the cliff faces.

Council has also increased ranger patrols in the area.

Witnesses previously said the woman fell from the rocks after having her photo taken on the edge of Diamond Bay Reserve.

“The friend was taking a picture of her, she sat back and went to stand and literally lost her footing and fell,” one witness said.

“These guys were rock climbing at the time and performed CPR on the woman … him and a friend were climbing and they heard the screaming of the lady who was taking a picture.”