Yanbacoochie Falls tragedy: Aspiring doctor Ujvala Vemuru plunges 20 meters to her death moments after taking a selfie at the top of the waterfall with friends

A young woman who plunged 20 meters to her death while taking photographs of a waterfall has been identified as a medical graduate.

Ujvala Vemuru, aged in her 20s, was walking with friends in Lamington National Park in the Gold Coast hinterland on Saturday afternoon when the group stopped at Yanbacoochie Falls.

It is understood he was retrieving his camera tripod, which fell on a ledge, when he slipped 10 meters down a slope and fell another ten meters into the water hole.

Vemuru died at the scene, despite the desperate efforts of three off-duty doctors who were in the area.

Ms Vemuru graduated in medicine from Bond University last year.

She was named one of ‘WA’s brightest young minds’ for her exam results in her final year at Willetton Senior High School in 2018.

It took rescuers more than six hours to recover his body.

“Her friends tried to call her but got no answer,” a Queensland Police spokesperson said.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesperson said it took some time for several emergency crews to locate the woman and conduct a risk assessment.

Rescuers then spent six and a half hours recovering the body using vertical rescue equipment.

The police will prepare a report for the coroner.

The tragic accident has prompted the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation to warn hikers to always stay on marked trails when visiting the national park.

Yanbacoochie Falls is one of the many picturesque waterfalls in Lamington National Park.

The picturesque location is a popular stop for hikers and hikers on the 13.4km West Canungra Creek Circuit.