Tributes flow for Dion Papanakos, 20, killed in Coogee cliff fall
Tributes have flowed for Dion Papanakos, 20, who tragically fell to his death at Coogee on Saturday.
NSW
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The shattered girlfriend of a young man who fell to his death in a horrific accident on the cliffs at Coogee on the weekend has told of heartache at watching the tragedy unfold in front of her eyes.
Dion Papanakos, 20, fell about 25 metres off the edge of the cliffs at the north end of the popular beach just before 3pm on Saturday.
Mr Papanakos’ girlfriend Miranda has now paid an emotional tribute the young man who she remembered as a “caring and loving partner”, while also describing his death as the most “painful” moment of her life.
“Saturday the 8th of January 2022 unfortunately was the day I lost the love of my life,” she wrote on Instagram.
“He slipped off the edge of a cliff and had fallen to his death. To have been standing there watching the whole thing unfold … I’ve never felt so much pain in my life to the emotion and heartache experienced in that moment.
“Take care of each other, love each other, never go about your day with anger and resentment towards anyone, because life is too precious and can be taken away from you at any given moment.
“I love you so much Dion.”
Mr Papanakos was only two months away from his 21st birthday when it is believed he climbed over a safety barricade, before falling on the slippery rock edge.
Police sources said initial investigations suggested that Mr Papanakos had been trying to make it down to a sheltered location roughly three to four metres down the cliff when he fell.
One onlooker, who like many others had been enjoying the sunny day on the popular clifftop, told of the heartbreaking scenes that followed the incident.
“The helicopters were flying around the guys were abseiling down the cliff, and then we just heard this piercing scream coming from over near where the ambulances were parked,” the witness said.
“They must have just told his girlfriend he’d died, it was heartbreaking, just truly horrible.”
NSW Ambulance paramedics, including the Special Operations Team and a rescue helicopter with a doctor on board, attended the scene and located Mr Papanakos suffering serious head injuries.
Despite their best efforts he could not be saved.
Mr Papanakos’ shattered family have created a makeshift shrine at the scene of the tragedy, while multiple friends took to social media to pay tribute to the young man.
“Deepest condolences to the family, friends and girlfriend, what a tragic accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with each of you, RIP Dion,” one family friend wrote.
The clifftops along the Coogee headlands are a common attraction for adventurers, with many climbing the fence to get a view over the cliff’s edge.
Recent rain is believed to have made the already dangerous cliffs even more slippery, emergency services said.
“Please avoid these high clifftop areas, tragedies can occur in a split second,” NSW Ambulance inspector Lucky Phrachanh said.
Police will now prepare a report for the coroner.
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Originally published as Tributes flow for Dion Papanakos, 20, killed in Coogee cliff fall
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