An Australian tourist spent her last terrifying minutes clinging to a sheer rock face 80m above the ground after she fell while visiting a famous Bali cliff, only to fall again, this time to her death.
Brianna Cronin, a 29-year-old ecologist on a solo travel adventure, tragically died at the famous Kelingking Beach, on the Indonesian island of Nusa Penida, on Saturday morning.
The spectacular rock formation – which resembles the head of a giant Tyrannosaurus Rex – has become one of Bali’s most recognisable landmarks and attracts thousands of foreigners every year.
The University of Queensland graduate was on the infamously steep and narrow track to explore the landmark when she slipped on loose rock and became stuck on the southern side of the cliff.
She was then spotted stranded precariously on a ledge below the path by another tourist, unable to get back to the track and too high to descend to the beach.
It is unclear if she was injured at that point, but the tourist alerted one of the local lifeguards who monitor the rugged and treacherous beach below about 7.45am.
A plan was being made to reach Ms Cronin when she sadly fell a second time while waiting to be rescued. She hit the sand of Kelingking Beach and died at the scene, suffering multiple fractures from the fall down the rocky cliff.
The track to the beach has previously been called a ‘death trap’ and an ‘accident waiting to happen’.
Emergency crews attend the scene on the beach after the fatal fall
Another tourist had spotted Ms Cronin stranded on the cliff face before she fell a second time, landing on the beach
‘The views are spectacular but it is downright dangerous and irresponsibly managed,’ one visitor wrote on Tripadvisor in 2019.
‘At least half of the ”path” is sheer, vertical drops, requiring climbing, hanging, and holding on to broken side rails made literally of sticks and bamboo.
‘Should you twist your ankle or break something you’d be in serious trouble, let alone how easy it would be to tumble through the ”side rails” and drop straight down the side of a cliff.
‘Beautiful as it is, this attraction is going to make headlines for all the wrong reasons if responsible action is not taken soon.’
Another traveller, in a video posted to TikTok in 2024, issued a stark warning to anyone considering attempting a hike to Nusa Penida’s famous beaches.
‘My number one tip for Diamond Beach, Nusa Penida, is do not do the climb down,’ she wrote.
‘There have been numerous deaths over the years. The last part is actually so hard to get onto the beach that after climbing down for 40 minutes we had to turn around and climb back up.’
Local authorities in recent years had constructed the metal framework for a large elevator between the top of the cliff and beach, but construction was called off in 2025 following concerns over the impact to nature and increased tourist numbers.
An aerial view of Kelingking Beach and the surrounding ‘T-rex’ cliffs
Rescuers had to carry Ms Cronin’s body up the notoriously dangerous stairs
A large lift was built between the clifftop and sand to safely carry visitors down, but construction was called off and it has been largely dismantled since.
The base of the abandoned lift could be seen in the background as emergency crews and tourists carried Ms Cronin’s body back up the treacherous track.
It is not the first fatal fall at the site which is infamous for it’s dangerous hike to the beach
Rescuers on Saturday spent about 90 minutes carrying Ms Cronin’s body back up the cliff to an awaiting ambulance.
An earlier attempt to remove her body by boat had to be abandoned due to large and dangerous swells.
She was later taken to Griya Penida Medical Clinic.
The recovery operation involved Indonesia’s Search-and-Rescue Agency, the Indonesian Navy, police, lifeguards, tourists, and local residents.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is assisting Ms Cronin’s family.
‘We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time,’ a spokesperson said.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli on Sunday said he was heartbroken for those who knew Ms Cronin.
‘A young woman on the trip of a lifetime, active and enjoying herself, and to have her life taken away in a heartbeat like that is incredibly sad,’ he said.
Ms Cronin’s body will be repatriated to Australia.
