Selfie warning as social media addicts flock to Sydney suburb

Residents in the exclusive Sydney suburb of Vaucluse fear for the safety of tourists who are flocking to their suburb to take photos for social media.

After a visit by an online “influencer” to Diamond Bay, who posted a photograph to Instagram, thousands of copy-cats have flocked to perch precariously on the historic ruins for a shot.

Now emergency services have warned visitors to take care as residents fear an accident.

"We do see a lot of tourists that come past, I believe there's a tour bus that drops off a bunch of people and it makes sense, it's super beautiful down here,” local Laura Dewit said.

Resident Rona Kahn, said she feared "any extreme, a wind or a stumble or anything, that's the end of them because it's sheer cliff down."

A global study found between 2011 and 2017, 259 people died while taking photographs, and thousands more were injured.

Gavin Zimmerman, 19, from Utah, USA, died taking photos while whale watching at Cape Solander in Kurnell last July.

Only weeks later, 34-year-old teacher Paul Lukasiewicz lost his life in the same spot. 

And with this year's whale migration about to begin passing Sydney harbour, authorities say it's not worth the risk.

Stephen Leahy from the Westpac helicopter, warned: "Don't jump over the fence, don't ignore the signage.

“It's really easy just to take that one step too far for the perfect picture and you're in dire straits."