Tourist falls 170ft to her death after climbing over barrier at cliff-top viewing platform

A woman has tragically died after falling 170ft off a clifftop viewing platform in Georgia.

Earlier this month, Inessa Polenko, from Sochi, Russia, was taking in the idyllic scenery at the Gagry viewing point in Abkhazia, Georgia, which overlooks the Black Sea.

The 39-year-old beautician was a keen Instagrammer and regularly shared selfies from her trips around the world, with her 9,000 followers on the platform.

Polenko reportedly climbed over a safety barrier to bag the perfect shot. In hindsight, it was a fatal decision.

Irena Polenko regularly shared selfies from her trips around the world. (East2West)

According to eyewitnesses, the beautician then stumbled and fell 170ft onto the beach below.

Tragic footage posted to social media shows her body lying on the beach.

Paramedics rushed to the scene, but Polenko sadly succumbed to her injuries and was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

Her funeral was held on April 9 in Sochi and an investigation has been opened into the circumstances of her death.

This comes as new research suggests that taking selfies should be considered a 'public health problem'.

Academics in Australia found that more than 400 selfie-related injuries and deaths had been reported since 2008.

Victims were most likely to be young women, while falling and drowning while taking a photo were the leading causes of death.

Experts have urged for social media apps to warn users about the dangers of taking selfies. (East2West)

Researchers have urged social media apps to warn users about potential dangers.

Dr Samuel Cornell, a risk expert at the University of New South Wales, wrote in the paper: "The selfie-related incident phenomenon should be viewed as a public health problem that requires a public health response.

"To date, little attention has been paid to averting selfie-related incidents through behavior change methodologies or direct messaging to users through apps.

"Although previous research has recommended 'no selfie zones,' barriers and signage as ways to prevent selfie incidents, our results suggest this may not be enough.

"It may be prudent to also engage in direct safety messaging to social media users."

In December of last year, a Singaporean tourist was taking pictures at New York's Hudson Valley when she fell 70 feet to her death.

Nur Aisyah Binte MD Akbar, 39, was at the edge of a cliff in Minnewaska State Park when she 'lost her footing'.

Her husband called 911 and Nur was taken to Ellenville Regional Hospital in Ulster County, where she was later pronounced dead.