Woman’s lucky escape after flood selfie as police warn about life-threatening behaviour

A woman who was swept into flood waters while trying to take a selfie has prompted police to take action against the dangerous behaviour.

A woman is lucky to have escaped unharmed after she fell into a fast-flowing swollen river while trying to take a selfie.

Her accident has promoted police in the ACT to issue a warning to the community not to risk their own lives or the lives of emergency service workers.

Police were called to Kambah Pools, near Canberra, on Tuesday night after a woman fell into the flooded river while taking photos for social media with two friends.

“The woman moved closer to the river to take a photograph and slipped on the wet rocks and fell into the fast flowing water,” police said in a statement.

“She was swept further down the river until she was able to secure herself on a tree.”

Fire crews used throw bags and ropes to help pull the woman from the water.

Police have warned residents not to risk their lives for a selfie. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

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Police are now urging others not to take the same risks.

“The woman rescued from Kambah Pool was lucky to escape with no major injury because today we could have been talking about a very different outcome,” detective inspector Simon Coady said.

“There is no photo or social media post that is worth risking your life to get.

“Any water rescue puts the lives of not only of yourself but those of emergency services personnel at risk.”

He said while the rain may have eased on Wednesday, rivers and flooded areas will take “some time” to return to normal.

“Police are reminding the community that even though the worst of the rain has passed, river and creek catchments are soaked, so it may only take a small amount of rain for levels to rise again quickly,” ACT Police said in a statement.