Waterfall safety: What you need to know to stay out of trouble
Thousands of hikers risk their lives by underestimating the hidden dangers at our region’s most photographed waterfalls every year – and drastic measures are needed to snuff out a surge in avoidable deaths.
Cairns
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EVERY year hikers risk their lives chasing adventure at Far Northern creeks and waterfalls by underestimating the hidden danger at our region’s most photographed beauty spots.
And tragically, every year bushwalkers fall victim to slippery rocks, rugged mountainous terrain, powerful rivers and massive waterfall drops.
Ahead of the latest waterfall death at Windin Falls last weekend growing emergency rescue call-outs – to help lost and injured bushwalkers – led to police reaching out for mapping information.
Atherton-based land search and rescue co-ordinator Sergeant Winfried Weiss is behind a campaign to better navigate thousands of square kilometres of remote and dense rainforest by asking hikers to submit map data.
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Bushwalkers have been asked to submit GPS files used to identify routes and bushland waypoints.
“Lots of people go hiking to waterfalls and these waterfalls are remote and not many people know where they are,” he said.
“When something does go wrong, if we have the data for that track in our system it means someone will be rescued much more quickly and much more safely.”
Sgt Weiss has collaborated with local hiker Steven Dangaard – who is the admin of Facebook group Cairns Hiking Come and Explore – to collate track information.
Scrolling back through Cairns Post archives revealed already in 2021 four people have died while visiting waterfalls around the Far North region.
The death toll in 2020 reached three, including two deaths at the notorious Devils Pool section of Babinda Creek.
Extreme adventure seeker Rob Davidson dedicates much of his free time to getting off the beaten track to discover a host of unnamed and remote jungle waterfalls hidden deep in the hills surrounding Queensland’s highest peak, Mount Bartle Frere.
Pinpointing anomalies on Google Maps, looking at historical records and studying routes Mr Davidson understands better than most the lure of Mother Nature’s beauty spots.
“What drives us? Well some are motivated by that ultimate selfie to put up on their social media account and others are motivated by wanting to go somewhere that has not been visited for maybe 100 years,” he said.
“Historical accounts start a process of discovery, for me it’s about going to places that have been untouched by humans for up to 100 years.
“Some of these places are stunning and some are not stunning but are unique in their own way. The rock formations or the tree roots whatever you may come across, is like ‘wow’.”
While he related to an obsessive drive to discover new places Mr Davidson was well aware of the dangers and what to do to stay safe.
“It generally comes back to knowing your limitations and being prepared,” he said.
“At the top of waterfalls, depending on the type of rock, can be very slippery, and a lot of people don’t understand the power of flowing water.
“Do your research and go prepared. Find out the terrain and know what you are getting into.
“It doesn’t matter where I go I always take my emergency packs. I have gels, waterproof poncho, PLP which is registered with AMSA. And the other thing I always take is a good quality Garmin GPS, hydration, a Lifestraw (water filter system) and first aid kit.”
The former lifesaver regional manager said COVID lockdowns had triggered a massive boost in the number of people enjoying nature.
Mr Davidson attributed increased bushland rescues, injuries and, tragically, deaths to the greater number of people out exploring.
“Pre-COVID a lot of lightly trafficked tracks almost turned into super highways, statistically the number of people being rescued (could be because of) the amount of people using the tracks has increased,” he said.
“(But) it does not take much to get lost in the rainforest or bush, you can go 20m off the track and get lost.”
A conservation advocate, Mr Davidson said he doesn’t post photographs of remote undiscovered waterfalls to public Facebook groups to help keep these wild places pristine and to protect novice hikers from themselves.
Always up for a fitness challenge the competitive triathlete said nothing compares to the discovery of tropical jungle jewels.
“And when you find a good one it becomes like a drug and you have to go to the next one,” he said.
“Some of us have got adventure in our blood and find locations that have been documented by loggers and miners and the Indigenous people”
To submit data to police email Sgt Weiss at Weiss.Winfried@police.qld.gov.au
WATERFALL INCIDENTS
Windin Falls
May 9, 2021
58-year-old woman,Milada Zak, slips into creek and gets washed over falls to her death
Behana Gorge
April 11, 2021
24-year-old man, an English tourist, Charlie Williams drowned at the gorge
Millaa Millaa Falls
March 28, 2021
26-year-old suffers lower back injury after ‘five storey’ fall
Stoney Creek Falls
February 1, 2021
Emily Hutchinson, 31, was killed after being hit by falling rocks
Emerald Creek Falls
March 7, 2021
24-year-old flown from falls in critical condition with head and leg injuries
Babinda Boulders
October 21, 2020
37-year-old man Shannon Hoffman drowned at the Devils Pool
Babinda Boulders
April 8, 2020
18-year-old woman Madison Tam drowned after being dragged into the Devils Pool
Cannabullen Falls
October 22, 2020
57-year-old Cairns man killed in base jumping accident from 70m waterfall
Behana Gorge
November 23, 2019
58-year-old firefighter Brant Jones was killed when he slipped and fell into the water
Kearneys Falls
November 5, 2019
32-year-old Sherei Anderson and Simon Walker, 24 killed at after slipping from falls
North Johnstone River
June 8, 2018
37-year-old Sydney kayaker killed after becoming trapped in rapids
Emerald Creek Falls
April 26, 2018
19-year-old Mareeba woman falls 15m from falls
Josephine Falls
January 23, 2018
Korean tourist Youngeun Kim was swept away and drowned by floodwater
Josephine Falls
February 24 2016
25-year-old British tourist Thomas Hunt drowns in floodwater
Crystal Cascades
April 24, 2015
28-year-old man from Fiji who couldn’t swim drowned at Crystal Creek
Emerald Creek Falls
September 19, 2014
23-year-old woman plunged 10m into a shallow pool
Emerald Creek Falls
September 11, 2014
24-year-old killed in waterfall plunge
Crystal Cascades
February 13, 2014
18-year-old Paddy Ram was killed after slipping and falling into water
Kearneys Falls
November 22, 2013
French tourist Frederic Andre killed in falls accident
Babinda Boulders
December 3, 2008
23-year-old navy man from Tasmania James Bennett drowned after diving into Devils Pool
Originally published as Waterfall safety: What you need to know to stay out of trouble
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