Madalyn Davis, 21, had gone with friends to watch sun rise at Diamond Bay cliffs

This article is more than 8 months old

This article is more than 8 months old

A 21-year-old British woman has died in Australia after falling from a popular beauty spot where she had gone with friends to watch the sun rise after a party, according to reports.

The victim was named in Australian media as Madalyn Davis, a beautician from Lincolnshire, who had only been in Australia for a few weeks after travelling to the country to start a new life.

She had reportedly gone with a group to visit the Diamond Bay cliffs, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, on Sunday morning, after spending the night at a party. Emergency services were called to the scene at about 6.30am.

Police, firefighters and paramedics searched with the help of the police helicopter and coastguard, and the body of a woman was retrieved from the water about four hours later.

“An investigation is under way. A report will be prepared for the coroner,” a police statement said.

Davis had been travelling around Thailand before arriving in Australia, visiting the south-east Asian nation’s beaches and popular full moon parties. Since arriving in Australia she had begun advertising her services online as a mobile beautician offering eyelash extensions.

Davis’s mother, Rebecca Smith, had been trying to find her on Sunday afternoon, asking friends via Facebook for help tracking her down. “Anyone seen Maddie? Not been able to get hold of her please get in touch if you were out with her last night,” she posted online. By Monday morning, her family confirmed she had died.

The Diamond Bay cliffs are a magnet for Instagram users seeking a dramatic backdrop for their self-portraits, MailOnline reported. People seeking the perfect shot often stray close to the edge, with a 27-year-old falling in August.

On Davis’s Instagram page, some of her nearly 15,000 followers had begun paying tribute to her as news of the tragedy spread. “My thought go out to you and your family,” said one follower. “Rest easy beautiful lady.”