Australian dies in couple's fatal cliff fall while taking selfie in Portugal

An Australian is dead after falling from a cliff overlooking a popular Portuguese tourist beach, reportedly while attempting to snap a “selfie”.

A couple, a woman in her 30s and man in his 40s, plunged more than 30 metres to their deaths between 1am and 6am on Tuesday morning (local time) after falling from a beach wall in the seaside town of Ericeira, according to local media.

Local rescue service captain Rui Pereira da Terra told Portuguese news agency Lusa a mobile phone was found resting on the wall, suggesting a fatal photography mishap.

“It seems that (the victims) might be getting a ‘selfie’, when they let the phone fall, leaned over to grab it and fell,” he was quoted as saying.

The bodies were reportedly discovered below at Pescadores Beach by a council worker and later transported to Lisbon’s National Legal Medicine Institute.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told Yahoo7 News they’re providing consular assistance to “the family of an Australian who died in Portugal”.

They said they had also been in contact with the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding the other person who died.

It is unclear which of the pair is an Australian citizen.

Ericeira, a popular surfing spot, is located about 30km northeast of the Portuguese capital of Lisbon.

Pescadores Beach, which translates to Fisherman’s Beach, is ringed by cliffs and a wall of up to 40m high.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed to Yahoo7 News that they are providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian who died in Portugal.