Woman falls to death in accident at Boroka Lookout near Halls Gap

Tourists have been warned “no photo is worth a life” after a woman died in the Grampians in her bid for an extreme travel snap.

A woman has fallen to her death from the picturesque Boroka lookout near Halls Gap.

“No photo is worth a life” is the message of Victoria’s Police and Emergency Services minister after the bid for an extreme photo caused a woman to fall to her death in in the Grampians on Saturday.

Emergency services have recovered the body of a 38-year-old Craigbieburn woman who fell 80m from the ­picturesque ­Boroka Lookout, near Halls Gap, around 3pm.

Witnesses said the woman was about to pose for a photo before the horror incident unfolded in front of her family.

“What we saw yesterday was a really tragic outcome of behaviour that unfortunately we see too often,” police minister Lisa Neville told media on Sunday.

“Do not take these,” she said. “It not only puts you at risk but it actually risks our life savers and emergency services workers that have to go either and rescue you or your body.”

A SES spokeswoman confirmed that a specialist team was winched in to recover her body after 9pm on Saturday night.

A natural rock ledge past the barriers at Boroka Lookout is popular among thrillseekers. Picture: Eliza Sum

An SES spokeswoman said the body had to be winched ­because of the harsh terrain.

“Originally there was a plan in place for us to send a search and rescue team but then we realised the significance of the incident,” a spokeswoman said.

Family members were at the scene consoling each other on Saturday evening.

Carlee Vokes, the manager of Halls Gap restaurant Paper Scissors Rock Brew Co, said customers had reported seeing the woman climbing over barriers at the lookout.

“We had heard that it had moved from a rescue mission to a recovery mission late in the afternoon,” Ms Vokes said.

“Customers who were at the lookout said they saw the woman climbing over barriers.

“I’ve worked here for 10 years and unfortunately these incidents (people falling) are quite regular.”

A British tourist fell to her death at the lookout in January 1999. The woman, 59, was with her husband and other relatives who were taking photos.

With views over the Halls Gap valley, Boroka Lookout is a popular place for tourists to take memorable snapshots.

The risks some visitors take at the scenic lookout.

The location is popular among social media users.

There are more than 6000 Instagram posts tagged at the spot, 15km from Halls Gap.

“It’s apparently not uncommon for people to jump over the barriers to try and get a better photo,” an emergency services worker told the Sunday Herald Sun.

Ms Neville also warned people were regularly taking risks for “extreme photos” in spots along the Great Ocean Road and other iconic areas.

She said in some cases people climbed over the barriers, but also warned people needed to take their own caution.

“We can’t rope off every part of Victoria,” she said.

Video emerged on social media in May 2019 of a man performing a backflip on a cliff ledge. While the man made it to safety, his actions were condemned at the time.

Stawell SES controller Alan Blight told media: “It is just crazy, people have died falling from that ledge in the past.”

“It is beyond belief people would put their lives at risk just for some ‘likes’ online,” he said of the backflipper.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.