Teenage girl fighting for life after plunging metres from waterfall

A teenager is in critical condition after plunging at least 50 metres from a waterfall near Mareeba in far north Queensland.

The 17-year-old girl was at the top of Emerald Creek Falls when she slipped about 2.30pm on Wednesday.

Quick-thinking friends rushed to rescue her.

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“Two guys were already there, one was holding her head and one was stopping her falling further,” witness Riley Bell said.

Emergency services treated the teenager at the scene before she was airlifted to Cairns Hospital with head and spinal injuries.

A Cairns hospital spokesperson confirmed the girl was in a critical condition and may be transferred to Townsville Hospital pending an assessment of her condition on Thursday morning.