Young British model falls to death from cliff while with friends in Sydney’s east
A 21-year-old British model and “beautiful soul” has been named as the young woman who fell to her death from a cliff in Sydney’s east on Sunday morning.
A young British tourist has died after falling from a cliff while with friends in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, five months after a similar tragedy.
Family and friends today paid tribute to Madalyn Davis, 21, who fell to her death at Diamond Bay Reserve in the affluent suburb of Vaucluse about 6.30am on Sunday.
“RIP Madalyn,” Rose Katie said on Facebook.
“Such a beautiful soul, you just loved living life to the fullest, you was one of the nicest people, the most beautiful! you’ll be missed soo much, you really was taken too soon.”
Hannah Screaton, on Instagram, said: “Words cannot describe how much this hurts right now. Love you and thinking of you Rebecca Smith (Madalyn’s mother) my heart is broken.”
Jade Ashley-Rogers posted: “RIP you gorgeous girl”.
Ms Davis was a model, make-up artist and eyelash beautician from England who had travelled through Thailand and Bali in recent weeks before arriving in Australia, according to her social media accounts.
“Just six weeks until I jet off for my travels and everything I have worked for, done and been through will be worth it,” she said to her 14,000 Instagram followers on September 30.
On December 14, she wrote: “Not looked back at my old life once (miss my job though) and I am super excited for my future abroad.”
NSW Police said an investigation was under way.
“Just before 10.30am yesterday morning the body of a woman, believed to be aged in her 20s, was retrieved from the water,” a spokeswoman told news.com.au this morning.
“She’s yet to be formally identified and an investigation is under way into the circumstances surrounding her death.”
In further tributes posted on social media, friend Tommaso Fabri, from Newcastle, said: “I'm utterly destroyed … I was going to organise to go down to Sydney to see them, I would never have thought it would happen. She has such a gorgeous soul x.”
Paris Lynn replied: “So sad isn’t it. These things don’t happen.”
“RIP Maddie,” Kelsie Fowler said.
Ms Davis’ friend Georgia Perry, also from Lincoln in the UK, shared a post that read: “Those who died yesterday had plans for this morning. And those who died this morning had plans for tonight. Don’t take life for granted … you may never get to have that chance again.”
Waverley Council, on its website, says the reserve has “excellent views over dramatic cliffs”.
Hundreds of Google reviews have been made for the coastal cliffs that are popular for people wanting to take selfies and wedding photos.
Comments include: “They have now barricaded off the best part but you can still get some beautiful photos from the walk track”, “took pre-wedding photos here … BUT need to be really careful” and “be cautious, it’s not the safest place in the world”.
Marine Rescue NSW said emergency services were called on Sunday morning “after a group of people taking photos inside the fence … regathered and could not find the woman”.
A crew from Marine Rescue Middle Harbour is involved in a search for a woman in her early 20s missing from Diamond Bay in Sydney's east. Emergency services were alerted after a group of people taking photos inside the fence early this morning regathered & could not find the woman pic.twitter.com/Du5GCuPxTn
— Marine Rescue NSW (@MarineRescueNSW) January 11, 2020
Nine reported Ms Davis had left a party with friends earlier on Sunday in Rose Bay.
Footage obtained by multiple television networks shows a group of people walking along a nearby road yesterday morning before scaling a fence at the popular and picturesque location.
One member of the group peers over the edge before they all vanish from sight.
In August last year, a local woman believed to be aged 27 died after falling 30 metres from a cliff at the Vaucluse reserve onto rocks below.
“She was treated at the scene by passers-by until paramedics arrived but died at the scene,” police said at the time.
“Witnesses have told police the woman may have been taking photos when she fell.”
Multiple rescue helicopters were brought in to help and her body was retrieved by PolAir.
The Daily Telegraph reports tourists and people fishing climbed the fences today despite Ms Davis’ death yesterday morning.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
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