Brisbane jockey Tim Bell has fallen to his death from a Singapore high-rise.

The 22-year-old had been living and working in Singapore on a three-month contract.

A friend has told the ABC that Bell died after slipping and falling from his 12th floor apartment on Tuesday night.

The news has rocked the Australian racing community.

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Bell started his career as a teenage jockey in Tamworth in New South Wales. He has been described as a hard worker who lived to be a jockey.

Bell had success early in his career and rode his first group one winner on Tinto in the Queensland Oaks in Brisbane last year.

Queensland Jockeys Association president Glen Prentice said Bell travelled to Singapore to take the next step in his career.

“It’s just tragic – it’s tragic that he’s not here with us anymore,” he said.

“He’s always wanted to reach the top and he wanted to travel overseas, so he took a three-month contract in Singapore.”

Mr Prentice said Bell “was a guy with a lot of ambition”.

“He really wanted to be the best out there,” he said.

“He felt like he’d achieved a lot in Brisbane and wanted to expand his horizons, get some international experience, to achieve goals and win Melbourne Cups and be regarded in the top bracket of riders – not only in the country but all around the world.”

Mr Prentice said Bell was already proving his skills overseas, with a recent group three win for trainer Mark Walker in Singapore.

“He was a happy fella – he was always good for a laugh, had plenty to say,” he said.

“He was well liked and well respected – a terrific rider. He will be very sorely missed.”