Taiwanese tourist walks off pier in Australia while checking Facebook

It wasn’t a tidal wave or a troublemaker that caused a Taiwanese tourist to fall of a pier in Melbourne, Australia -- it was social media.

The woman had to be rescued from the water near St. Kilda's pier on Port Phillip Bay late on Monday night after she accidentally walked off while checking her Facebook page.

A quick-thinking witness alerted police about what had happened. After about 20 minutes, they were able to rescue the woman, who didn’t know how to swim, using a speedboat.

“In an interesting twist Victoria Police Water Police have identified a new hazard on Port Phillip Bay -- social media!” police said in a statement. “There will be no need for a lost property report as the woman kept hold of her mobile phone throughout the entire ordeal.”

The woman was brought to a hospital for treatment.

"She was still out in the water laying on her back in a floating position because she told us later that she couldn't swim," said Senior Constable Dean Kelly. "She still had her mobile phone in her hand and initially she apologized... she said 'I was checking my Facebook page on the phone and I've fallen in.'"

[BBC]

[Victoria Police News]