A TOURIST plunged 170ft to her death while taking a selfie from a clifftop viewing platform.
Inessa Polenko, 39, climbed over a barrier then stumbled and fell onto a beach below, according to eyewitnesses.
Paramedics rushed to the scene but the beautician died in hospital.
Tragic footage showed the Russian woman’s body on the beach below the picture spot.
She fell from the panoramic Gagry viewing point in Abkhazia, Georgia which overlooks the Black Sea.
A keen Instagrammer with 9,000 followers, Inessa regularly posted selfies from around the world.
She had shared snaps from her trips to Dubai, Egypt and Russian-occupied Crimea.
The popular beautician worked with clients mainly in Moscow and major Russian resort Sochi, where she lived.
Her funeral is set to be held today in Sochi.
An investigation is underway into the circumstances of her death.
New research suggests taking selfies in similar cases may pose a “public health problem”.
An Australian study found almost 400 injuries and deaths had been reported around the globe as a result of selfies since 2008.
The victims most often were young women in their early 20s, usually on holiday.
In most cases they would fall or drown while taking a photo.
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
