Babinda Boulders: Emergency services resume search for missing Cairns swimmer

Emergency services will this morning resume the search for an 18-year-old Cairns woman who went missing at a popular Far North swimming hole yesterday afternoon.

UPDATE 6.45AM: Police will this morning resume the search for a woman who went missing at a popular swimming hole about 60km south of Cairns.

About 3pm yesterday, police were called to Babinda Boulders when the 18-year-old woman failed to resurface after swimming between two rocks at the popular recreational area.

Friends of the missing woman informed police of the last her last known location following their own searches.

A short time later, police commenced a multi-agency land and water search to locate the White Rock woman.

The search was suspended at 6.30pm and police remained on scene overnight.

A roadblock is currently in place, no traffic other than emergency services are permitted to enter the Babinda Boulders area.

Emergency services resume the search for a missing 18-year-old at Babinda Boulders. PHOTO: Joshua Davies

LAST NIGHT: Emergency services are growing “more and more concerned” for an 18-year-old Cairns woman who went missing at a popular Far North swimming hole yesterday afternoon.

The search will resume tomorrow morning at first light for the teenager, who failed to resurface at Devil’s Pool, Babinda Boulders at 2.52pm yesterday.

Police and Swiftwater search teams set up lights along the Boulders track and combed the area for as long as they could.

Emergency services at Babinda Boulders, where a search is under way for a missing swimmer reported to have drowned. Picture: Joshua Davies.

Detective Acting Inspector Jason Smith said it wasn’t looking good as the search was forced to wrap due to lack of light this evening, but they would keep looking for as long as they could.

“The missing swimmer entered the water shortly after 2pm this afternoon and failed to surface,” he said.

“As time continues, we grow more and more concerned.”

Det Acting Insp Smith said they would notify the woman’s family.

“We’ll be heading back first thing in the morning,” he said.

The Rescue 510 helicopter attended the scene yesterday. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

Acting Sergeant at Babinda Police Station Justin Benvenuti said the teenager had come down swimming with her partner and close friends, and knew the area.

“We’ve searched one pool where she was last seen and at the moment there have been no result from that search,” he said.

“Probably all up we’ve had about 50 persons on scene searching.”

“I’d also take this opportunity to remind everyone the signs are up for a reason.

“There is numerous signs here to say not to swim in certain areas and to stick to swimming in the designated areas so just moving forward we really need to adhere to those signages.

“They were not swimming in the designated swimming area.

Warning sign on the walk to Devil's Pool, The Babinda Boulders.

“We’ve had rain here for probably the last two weeks so it’s quite flowy at the moment and the water is at a much higher level than normal.”

The Devil’s Pool area of the Boulders has a reputation for danger, and has claimed the lives of 17 swimmers since the 1950s.

A sign at the entrance to the Devil’s Pool walk warns of the danger present at the track, including slippery rocks and rapidly rising water levels.

The road up to Babinda Boulders will remain closed until further notice.

Northern Exposure: Babinda Boulders by John Griffith

UPDATE 6.20PM

A missing woman reported to have possibly drowned at a Far North swimming hole has still not been found, as emergency services ramp up their search.

Police and Swiftwater search teams have set up lights along the Babinda Boulders track and will search for as long as they can.

Detective Acting Inspector Jason Smith said they would keep looking for as long as they could.

“A search is under way for a missing swimmer who entered the water shortly after 2pm this afternoon and failed to surface,” he said.

“SES has provided lighting to assist the search and we will continue for as long as we can.

“As time continues, we grow more and more concerned.”

Det Acting Insp Smith said they were notifying the girl’s family.

EARLIER

Emergency services have rushed to a popular swimming hole following reports of a possible drowning.

Paramedics were alerted to reports of a submersion at Devil’s Pool, Babinda Boulders, at 2.52pm.

Queensland Ambulance Service tasked three crews to the scene, including the rescue helicopter.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said two swiftwater rescue technicians were conducting a land and downstream search for the swimmer.

More to come.

Originally published as Babinda Boulders: Emergency services resume search for missing Cairns swimmer