‘Selfie’ couple fall 100ft to deaths over cliff at beach
A BRITISH woman and her boyfriend who fell 100ft to their deaths from a clifftop wall had been trying to take a selfie, police believed last night.
Tragic Louise Benson and Michael Kearns are thought to have overbalanced after dropping a phone.
Their bodies were found at 6.30am at the bottom of the sheer drop beside a popular beach in Portugal.
Louise, 37, and Michael, a 33-yearold Australian, had reportedly been seen earlier sitting on the wall with their legs towards the sea.
Police found a mobile at the scene and believe the couple dropped it while taking a picture at Fishermen’s Point in the town of Ericeira.
Rescue services chief Rui Pereira da Terra said: “Everything seems to indicate that the fall happened as they were probably trying to take a selfie.”
The couple, both keen divers, had been living together in Perth, Western Australia. They were on a five-month holiday which had recently included attending a friend’s wedding.
Cruel
A day before the tragedy Louise, thought to come from Bristol, posted a picture of Michael relaxing in the sunshine with the cliff which would claim their lives in the background.
Shocked and heartbroken friends paid tribute to the couple yesterday.
Tina Dorant described Louise, who was a marine activist, as “my fellow ocean warrior”, adding: “I can’t believe it still and my heart goes out to your family and friends.”
Liz Catchpole wrote on Facebook: “No words can describe what we have lost. Your laughs amazing, your friendship invaluable.”
John Keogh added: “It can be such a cruel world we live in.”
Ericeira, a fishing town favoured by surfers, is renowned for its seafood restaurants and nightlife.
Officials from both the UK and Australian governments said they were providing support to the families.
Michael worked at the Chevron Wheatstone Project, a giant gas field development 700 miles north of Perth.
His mother is believed to be travelling to Portugal from Australia.
How otHers Have perisHed taking self-portraits on tHeir mobiles
MOTHER-of-two Carmen Greenway died after falling off her bike moments after she took a selfie following a night out to celebrate her mother’s birthday.
The graphic designer was riding home from the pub with just one hand on the bike and was only 100 yards from her home in Isleworth, west London. Her husband Rufus said after her death in 2016 that she regularly took selfies while cycling. Tragic Louise and, above, the beach with cliff at Ericeira. Left, photo of Michael taken a day before their fatal fall
TAXI driver Prabhu Bhatara was mauled to death by a bear last month after he stepped out of his car to take a selfie next to it.
He spotted the injured creature as he returned from a wedding in eastern India.
Fellow passengers in a 4x4 advised him not to get out the car and approach the bear but he ignored their pleas and was attacked.