Man dies after falling 30 metres down sinkhole in Mount Gambier after doing handstand on railings

Bradley Streeter – an adventurous and talented young man who died at the Mt Gambier sinkhole this weekend – was performing a handstand on a railing when he fell to his death, police have told his grieving family.

Bradley Streeter, 20, was with friends at the popular Cave Gardens in the city centre, just before midnight on Saturday, when he fell into the sinkhole from the lower viewing platform.

• ‘Cruise for Bradley’ to honour sinkhole victim
• How to get the most from your Advertiser digital subscription

A young man who died in a tragedy at a Mt Gambier sinkhole was performing a handstand on a railing when he fell 30m to his death, police have told his grieving family.

Bradley Streeter, 20, was with friends at the popular Cave Gardens in the city centre, just before midnight on Saturday, when he fell into the sinkhole from the lower viewing platform.

His mother Marianne told The Advertiser her “cheeky” son from Lewiston, north of Adelaide, was loved by family and friends.

“I loved him. He was my heart, my mind, my soul,” she told The Advertiser. “He was my sword and my shield.”

Liz Anne a family friend of 37 years who spoke to The Advertiser on behalf of the family, said Bradley was an incredibly social young man who was “full of life”.

“He was such a loud personality that I think even if people didn’t know him very well, he imprinted on them extremely well,” Ms Anne said.

She said police had told the family that Bradley was doing a handstand on a rail when he fell.

But a police spokesman told The Advertiser on Sunday night that he would not comment on the circumstances.

The Cave Gardens sinkhole in Mount Gambier. Picture: Frank Monger

Bradley Streeter, 20, of Lewiston, tragically fell to his death on Saturday night. Picture: Facebook

Ms Anne said Bradley was hoping to forge a career in mechanics and had a circle of mates who would fix cars and motorbikes together. “He probably had 10 different motorbikes over the last few years, all off-road ones,” Ms Anne said.

“Then he got into his four-wheel-driving; he loved his camping and he loved his fishing as well.”

Marianne Streeter said Bradley was a keen fisherman who loved to go on adventures and fix motorbikes.

Cave Gardens, one of several geological wonders on the Limestone Coast, is among Mt Gambier’s top tourist drawcards.

It features viewing platforms above a gaping sinkhole, which was the original water source for the early settlers. Bradley’s death sparked tributes on social media. His brother Blake wrote “love you forever and always”.

MORE NEWS

Cosi engages lawyer in blue with Lucy and Kane Cornes

Push for Fox Creek to become top mountain bike destination

America’s Got Talent: Behind the scenes with Hans

Another person described Bradley as kind and loving with “a heart of gold”.

He was also a doting brother to his younger sibling, but was still carrying the wounds from the sudden death of his father Todd on Australia Day two years ago.

“He was just a mini-me version of his father,” Ms Anne said.

“Him and his dad were like best mates.”

Limestone Coast police Inspector Campbell Hill said it was “around about a 30m drop” to the base of Cave Gardens.

Emergency services used a crane to retrieve Bradley’s body shortly after 3am on Sunday. A report is being prepared for the coroner.

In 2005, a 21-year-old man was seriously injured after falling 10 metres into the same sinkhole.

Originally published as Man dies after falling 30 metres down sinkhole in Mount Gambier after doing handstand on railings