An Australian tourist has died after falling about 80 metres from a cliff at Kelingking Beach in Nusa Penida near Bali.

The incident unfolded after 8am on Saturday when tourists alerted a local lifeguard to a woman who appeared to be stranded on a cliff at the popular beach, about 20 kilometres off the south-eastern coast of Bali.

The woman – named as Brianna Lani Cronin, 29, by rescue authorities – was believed to be from Queensland and was reportedly staying at a hostel on the island according to The Bali Times.

The Indonesian Navy said in a statement that the woman fell from the cliff onto the rocky shoreline while the lifeguard and other locals were scrambling to mount a rescue.

She had suffered a fractured leg and arm, as well as lacerations and other injuries to her body.

Cronin had already died from her injuries by the time rescuers reached her, a spokesperson for the Indonesian Navy said.

According to a statement from Basarnas, the country’s search and rescue agency, attempts to retrieve her body by boat were unsuccessful due to large waves.

Instead, rescuers had to place Cronin’s body on a stretcher and carry her up a steep and narrow staircase for 1½ hours.

Kelingking Beach sits on the southwest coast of the island of Nusa Penida, which is about 20 kilometres off the main island of Bali.

The beach is best known for its iconic headland nicknamed “T-Rex Bay”, named after a massive, emerald-green cliff formation that twists out into the Indian Ocean in the shape of a dinosaur.

It is widely celebrated as one of the most Instagrammable beaches in Asia, with tourists lining up for an hour along the cliffside edge to snap selfies against the stunning backdrop.

Investigations are continuing into the circumstances that led to the woman’s fall.

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