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

A young woman who plunged 20 metres to her death while taking photos of a waterfall has been identified as a medicine graduate. 

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

It's understood she had been retrieving her camera tripod, which dropped over a ledge, when she slipped 10m down a slope and fell a further ten metres into the waterhole.

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

Ujvala Vemuru (pictured), aged in her 20s, was hiking with friends in Lamington National Park in the Gold Coast Hinterland on Saturday afternoon when the group stopped at Yanbacoochie Falls

Ms Vemuru graduated with a degree in medicine from Bond University last year. 

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

It took rescue crews over six hours to retrieve her body. 

'Her friends tried calling out to her but couldn't get a response,' a Queensland Police spokesperson said.

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

Emergency responders then spent six-and-a-half hours retrieving the body using vertical rescue equipment.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

Ms Vemuru (pictured) graduated with a degree in medicine from Bond University last year and was named as one of 'WA's brightest young minds' in 2018

Ujvala Vemuru, aged in her 20s, tragically fell to her death at Yanbacoochie Falls (pictured)

It took paramedics and fire rescue crews six-and-a-half hours to retrieve the woman's body

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

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

The scenic spot is a popular stop for hikers and bushwalkers on the 13.4km West Canungra Creek Circuit.