A US tourist who was thrown into a ravine from Germany's 160ft Cinderella castle was a university student on a trip of a lifetime after graduation.

Eva Liu, 21, from Naperville, Illinois, was at the Neuschwanstein Castle in Schwangau with her pal, when they were both pushed off a bridge by a sex fiend.

Eva tragically died after being airlifted to hospital while her friendKelsey Chang, 22, managed to survive with a few bruises.

The duo graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign last month with computer science and computer engineering degrees.

Associate chancellor of UIUC Robin Kaler described the death as "senseless" in a statement.

She told Mail Online: "Our University of Illinois family is mourning the senseless death of Ms. Liu and the attack on Ms Chang.

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"Both had just graduated in May and should have been able to celebrate such an important accomplishment without the fear of such a tragic outcome."

Police believe a 30-year-old man lured the two women onto a trail by the scenic Marienbrücke Bridge and "physically attacked" Eva.

Cops said Kelsey rushed over to help her – but the suspect allegedly strangled her and pushed her over the railing of the bridge.

He then allegedly tried to sexually assault Eva before also shoving her down the steep 160ft slope.

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Both women landed down the ravine just a few feet away from each other.

Footage from the scene shows a group of tourists watching as the helicopter descends to help the two women.

The video zooms in, and a woman in a light blue top, can be seen moving around next to the fallen tree while the rescuers are approaching her to help her.

Both women were airlifted to the hospital but Eva sadly succumbed to her injuries.

The 30-year-old suspect fled the scene but he was caught after cops and rescue teams launched a huge operation.

Footage shows a handcuffed man in a t-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap being led away by officers.

He remains in police custody in nearby Fuessen while the motive of the attack remains unknown.

Eric Abneri, a business graduate from the University of Pittsburgh who took the video, said the man appeared to have scratches across his face.

He said: He did not say a single word. He didn’t open his mouth – he didn’t mumble.

"He just walked with the police and that was it."

Abneri said he and his friends reached the scenic viewpoint as a chopper arrived.

"I’m honestly absolutely stunned someone is still alive from this," he said.

"It is like falling from the top of an absolute cliff."

Abneri described it as "a very, very difficult rescue because of those cliffs and because the helicopter came mere feet above the tree line at the top of the hill".

"They did an unbelievable job," he said.

Authorities have not identified either the suspect or the victims.

Chief Public Prosecutor Thomas Hörmann told Bild: "The crime happened on Wednesday around 2.40pm.

"The two tourists met the man on a hiking tour east of the Marienbrücke. And joined him.

"He physically attacked the 21-year-old. The 22-year-old wanted to help, so he choked her and pushed her down the slope."

The suspect is under investigation on suspicion of murder, attempted murder, and a sexual offence.

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It is understood the bridge is open to tourists despite the incident.

Neuschwanstein Castle, which sits on a rock ledge, was built in the 19th century and boasts more than a million visitors a year.

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