Tourist Walks Off Australia Pier While Checking Facebook

ShutterstockForget distracted driving - the new hazard may be distracted walking.

A Taiwanese tourist walking in Melbourne, Australia fell into the icy waters of Port Philip Bay after walking off a pier while checking her Facebook page on her phone, BBC News reports.

The woman, who was not identified, was rescued about 20 minutes later after a witness saw her and alerted police. She was found 'floundering in the water' and police did not believe she knew how to swim, according to a statement from Victoria Police.

'She still had her mobile phone in her hand and initially she apologized,' Senior Constable Dean Kelly told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ' ... She said 'I was checking my Facebook page on the phone and I've fallen in.''

She was taken to a local hospital for treatment, the police statement said.