A 30-year-old American is accused of sexually attacking and murdering the survivor’s friend (Picture: @thefrownyface/Shutterstock)

A tourist who was thrown down a gorge while trying to save her friend from an alleged killer in Germany only suffered light injuries, police say.

The pair, both American women in their early 20s, tumbled 50 metres in the attack near Neuschwanstein Castle – famed for inspiring Cinderella’s home in the 1950s Disney classic.

Authorities say the suspect, a 30-year-old male tourist also from the US, met the women on a trail near the Marienbrücke bridge, which offers a breathtaking view of the site.

He is said to have led them along a supposed ‘shortcut’ before trying to sexually assault the younger of the two, who was 21.

‘When the 22-year-old [tried] to intervene, he choked her and then pushed her down a steep slope,’ Bavarian police said in the statement.

The man then pushed the 21-year-old down the ravine and she ‘came to rest’ next to her friend, the statement added.

The 21-year-old was airlifted to hospital but later died, while reports initially suggested her friend remained in a serious condition.

The attack happened near a popular beauty spot overlooking the castle (Picture: AP)

Rescue workers were seen attending to the women down the ravine (Picture: Reuters)

They were airlifted to hospital but the younger victim succumbed to her injuries (Picture: Reuters)

A spokesperson for the police force told MailOnline the survivor in fact suffered some bruising and one laceration and could be released from hospital on Friday.

It’s thought vegetation may have broken her fall, although parts of the ravine face consist of sheer rock.

The suspect allegedly fled the scene and was arrested after a brief manhunt.

Footage shows police officers leading away a handcuffed man, who appeared around 30, sporting a long beard and wearing a baseball cap.

Detectives are now asking for tourists and anyone else who was in the area to send them any photos and videos they were taking at the time to help build the case.

So many images are expected that they’ve set up an online portal where people can upload them.

Police said a judge in nearby Kempten on Thursday ordered the suspect to be held pending a potential indictment and he was taken to jail.

Under German law, suspects must be brought before a judge at a closed-doors hearing by the end of the calendar day after their arrest if investigators intend to keep them in custody.

He is under investigation on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and an undetermined ‘sexual offence’.

Detectives said they and prosecutors were focusing on trying to reconstruct exactly what happened and called for any witnesses to come forward.

Neuschwanstein, in southern Bavaria and close to the Austrian border, is the most-visited castle in Germany, welcoming 1.4 million people each year.

Bavaria’s state police have been approached for comment.

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A 30-year-old American is accused of sexually assaulting and murdering the woman’s friend after she tried to save her.