Tourist falls off pier while checking Facebook on mobile phone

A tourist had to be rescued after accidentally walking off a pier in Melbourne while checking her Facebook page, reports the Press Association.

The woman plummeted from St Kilda's pier into Port Phillip Bay late on Monday night.

Police were alerted to the incident by a witness and rescued her in a speedboat after about 20 minutes, reports the BBC.

The woman, who apologised, was taken to hospital for observation but police said she was fine.

Senior Constable Dean Kelly of the water police said officers found her floating metres from the pier.

"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," the Australian Broadcasting Corporation quoted him as saying.

"She still had her mobile phone in her hand and initially she apologised... she said 'I was checking my Facebook page on the phone and I've fallen in'."

Constable Kelly called on people to pay more attention when using social media around water.